Qsymia prescription online

One of the active ingredients in Qsymia, phentermine, is an appetite suppressant. It may also increase metabolism.

How topiramate, Qsymia’s other active ingredient, affects appetite and weight isn’t known. But it may act on neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain to reduce appetite and make you feel more full.  It may also help reduce leptin (a hormone that helps regulate weight and appetite by signaling to the brain when you’re full) and blood sugar levels. 

Qsymia’s maker, Vivus, says that it offers all-day hunger control, makes you feel full all day to reduce cravings, and changes how some foods taste so you don’t want to eat as much.

In clinical trials, people taking Qsymia lost weight and had reductions in waist size, blood pressure, blood glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels. Those taking higher doses had the greatest reductions in weight and other measures. 

You take Qsymia one each day in the morning. It comes as a capsule that you swallow whole and can take with or without food. 

Capsules come in 4 strengths: 

• 3.75 mg/23 mg
• 7.5 mg/46 mg
• 11.25 mg/69 mg
• 15 mg/92 mg

The first number is the amount of phentermine in each capsule. The second is the amount of topiramate ER. 

Most people start with the 3.75 mg/23 mg capsule and stay at that dose for 14 days. After that, they increase to the 7.5 mg/46 mg dose. If after 12 weeks (3 months), they haven’t lost at least 3% of their body weight, providers might increase the dose to 11.25 mg/69 mg a day for 14 days and then increase it to 15 mg/92 mg once a day. If after 12 weeks at the highest dose, someone hasn’t lost at least 5% of their starting weight, it’s recommended to gradually stop taking Qsymia and consider an alternative.

For people who lose more than 2 pounds a week, the provider may decrease the dose.

Qsymia and Contrave (naltrexone HCI/bupropion HCI) are 2 of the oldest weight loss medications available. Qsymia was approved in 2012 and Contrave in 2014. Both are combinations of other medications. Both result in up to a 10% loss in body weight in 56 weeks. Both are oral pills. Qsymia is taken once a day; Contrave twice a day.

Newer prescription options for weight loss are GLP-1 agonists, including Zepbound (tirzepatide), Wegovy (semaglutide), and Saxenda (liraglutide) All are taken as weekly injections rather than daily pills. People lose more weight on Zepbound or Wegovy than other weight loss solutions. Up to 20.9% on Zepbound and 14.% on Wegovy. Weight loss on Saxenda is the same as with Qsymia and Contrave at 10% in 56 weeks. 

All of these medications are intended to be used with diet and exercise and for people who are medically obese or overweight. Many insurance companies require prior authorization before paying for any of them. And some require you try a less-expensive solution before they’ll cover the higher price for injections.

Saxenda, Contrave, Zepbound, and Wegovy are all FDA-approved for weight loss or weight management in people with obesity and overweight when combined with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. All have side effects that may include, but aren’t limited to, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and headaches.

Which medication is right for you depends on you, your health history, your goals, and other factors. To find the right weight-loss solution, talk to a licensed, board-certified weight-loss provider.