New study claims this weight loss drug may be effective for long-term treatment
| Mar 25, 2019, 14:28 IST
According to a new study, a generic weight loss drug could be effective for long-term treatment and is safe. Phentermine, which was approved by the FDA almost 60 years ago, is often used for close to three months.
13,972 adults were part of the study. Some of the participants were prescribed phentermine for short-term use and the rest of the group were prescribed the drug for close to a year. Upon examination, the researchers found taking it for longer can aid greater weight loss. The team also found people who stopped taking the pill ended up putting the weight back on. The results also showed taking it for longer than three months did not increase the risk of heart attack, stroke or increase levels of blood pressure.
"Although diet and exercise are critical components of any weight-loss programme, up to half of patients don't have long-term success with lifestyle changes alone," Kristina H. Lewis, Assistant Professor at the Wake Forest School of Medicine in the US, told a news portal.
However, Lewis noted that people with a history of heart disease or blood pressure should not take this drug as it is a stimulant. People with low cardiac risk and normal blood pressure should consult with a doctor before taking this drug. Further research is needed to fully understand its benefits and drawbacks.
The study's findings were originally published in the journal Obesity.
13,972 adults were part of the study. Some of the participants were prescribed phentermine for short-term use and the rest of the group were prescribed the drug for close to a year. Upon examination, the researchers found taking it for longer can aid greater weight loss. The team also found people who stopped taking the pill ended up putting the weight back on. The results also showed taking it for longer than three months did not increase the risk of heart attack, stroke or increase levels of blood pressure.
"Although diet and exercise are critical components of any weight-loss programme, up to half of patients don't have long-term success with lifestyle changes alone," Kristina H. Lewis, Assistant Professor at the Wake Forest School of Medicine in the US, told a news portal.
However, Lewis noted that people with a history of heart disease or blood pressure should not take this drug as it is a stimulant. People with low cardiac risk and normal blood pressure should consult with a doctor before taking this drug. Further research is needed to fully understand its benefits and drawbacks.
The study's findings were originally published in the journal Obesity.