5 FDA-approved weight loss drugs and a few ‘off label’ options
FDA-approved weight loss drugs are being prescribed more often now that our society is beginning to understand that obesity is a complex chronic disease that often requires medical intervention and treatment.
You may want to know what the options are if you must decide if a weight loss drug is right for you. This post is a quick hit listing drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
I will include drugs approved specifically for weight loss, but also note any formulations that are also approved under a different name specifically to treat Type 2 diabetes.
All of the drugs listed here require a prescription.
Many additional drugs, such as triple-hormone receptor agonist retatrutide from Eli Lilly, are in the trial phase. I’ll add additional options if and when the drugs are approved.
FDA-approved weight loss drugs
Wegovy
Manufacturer: Novo Nordisk
FDA approval: 2021
Active ingredient: semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1)
Medication delivery: Injection pen
Dosing schedule: 1x weekly
Available doses: 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg, and 2.4mg
Retail cost: About $1,300 a month without insurance or Novo Nordisk’s savings card
Availability: See the FDA’s shortage list to determine if any Wegovy doses are currently in short supply.
About the drug: Wegovy and Ozempic are the same drugs but are approved for different purposes and sold under different brand names. Wegovy is a GLP-1 drug specifically approved to treat obesity. The FDA also recently approved Wegovy with an additional “indication” to prevent heart disease and stroke.
Zepbound
Manufacturer: Eli Lilly
FDA approval: 2023
Active ingredient: tirzepatide, glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)
Medication delivery: Injection pen
Dosing schedule: 1x weekly
Available doses: 2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg, and 15mg
Retail cost: $1,060 per month without insurance or Eli Lilly’s savings card (which can only be applied if you have commercial insurance)
Availability: See the FDA’s shortage list to determine if any Zepbound doses are currently in short supply.
About the drug: Like Wegovy, Zepbound is part GLP-1 but also adds a second component: a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). The drug results in a reduced appetite and the feeling of being full longer than usual.
Saxenda
Manufacturer: Novo Nordisk
FDA approval: 2014
Active ingredient: liraglutide, glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1)
Medication delivery: Injection pen
Dosing schedule: 1x daily
Available doses: 0.6mg, 1.2mg, 1.8mg, 2.4mg, and 3mg
Retail cost: $1,349 for a one-month supply without insurance or using Novo Nordisk’s savings card
Availability: See the FDA’s shortage list to determine if any Saxenda doses are currently in short supply.
About the drug: Like other GLP-1 drugs, Saxenda helps regulate one’s appetite to reduce calorie intake.
Contrave
Manufacturer: Orexigen Therapeutics
FDA approval: 2014
Active ingredient: bupropion-naltrexone
Medication delivery: extended-release tablet
Dosing schedule: Starting at week 4: 2 tablets 2x daily
Available doses: 90mg bupropion and 8mg naltrexone
Retail cost: $668 per month without insurance
About the drug: This drug combo consists of bupropion, classified as an antidepressant, and naltrexone, an opiate antagonist. The medication works to reduce appetite by focusing on the brain’s hunger and reward centers.
Qsymia
Manufacturer: Vivus
FDA approval: 2012
Active ingredient: phentermine-topiramate
Medication delivery: extended-release capsule
Dosing schedule: Patients titrate up to 7.5mg/46mg 1x daily
Retail cost: $134 for a one-month supply
About the drug: The phentermine component of this drug suppresses the appetite while topiramate is what’s known as an anticonvulsant drug.
Drugs used “off label” for weight loss
Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Victoza
Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Victoza are all drugs that are FDA-approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is the same drug as Wegovy (semaglutide). Mounjaro is the same drug as Zepbound (tirzepatide) and Victoza is the same drug as Saxenda (liraglutide).
While these three drugs are FDA-approved to treat Type 2 diabetes, some doctors will prescribe them “off label” for weight loss. Check with your insurance company to see if it will cover this off-label use.
Metformin
Manufacturer: Bristol-Myers Squibb and additional companies
FDA approval: 1994
Active ingredient: Metformin hydrochloride
Medication delivery: tablet or solution
Dosing schedule: differs by patient
Retail cost: Ranges depending on mg prescribed
About the drug: This drug, classified as a biguanides, is FDA approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. However, some doctors do prescribe it off label for weight loss. It works by lowering the amount of sugar your body absorbs from food as well as what’s produced in the liver.
The wrap-up
Talk with your doctor to determine if any weight-loss medication is right for your situation. All weight loss drugs are usually paired with behavior modifications, a reduced-calorie meal plan, and increased exercise, including strength training.
