Past, present and future of pharmacotherapy for obesity

Clin Investig Arterioscler. 2017 Nov-Dec;29(6):256-264. doi: 10.1016/j.arteri.2017.06.002. Epub 2017 Sep 19.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Conventional treatment for obesity with diet, exercise and bariatric surgery has limitations; thus, it is necessary to have pharmacological tools. In the past, different drugs were marketed that were withdrawn due to safety problems. There are currently 3 drugs approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for obesity therapy (orlistat, combination of bupropion and delayed-release naltrexone and liraglutide) and two more only authorized by FDA (lorcaserin and the combination of phentermine and extended release topiramate). It is recommended to use as a second therapeutic line and its choice should be individualized taking into account multiple aspects such as expected weight loss, route of administration, safety profile and cost. Currently there are several drugs under development that act on different therapeutic targets.

Keywords: Drug treatment; Exceso de peso; Farmacoterapia; Obesidad; Obesity; Overweight; Pharmacotherapy; Pérdida de peso; Tratamiento con fármacos; Weight loss.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Obesity Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / economics
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Costs
  • Drug Design*
  • Humans
  • Obesity / drug therapy*
  • Obesity / physiopathology
  • Weight Loss / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Obesity Agents