A new anti-obesity drug has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in September.
Contrave, the new weight loss pill is the third among Food and Drug Administration approved anti-obesity drug since 2012.
Obesity is one of the top medical and social issues in the U.S. The federal government has been focused on arresting the growing obesity and weight gain problem in all means.
There are fastfood campaigns on less salt and sugar, promotion of diet and exercise, surgical advances and the most accessible anti-obesity pills.
There are over 70 million adults and about 17 percent of adolescents in U.S. that are obese from the data gathered in 2010 and recorded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The new anti-obesity drug, Contrave is seen as one of the options available for the Americans to solve the debilitating weight gain condition. It is the third anti-obesity pills after Qsymia and Belviq.
What is the composition of Contrave?
The new anti-obesity drug is composed of bupropion (Wellbutrin), an antidepressant, and naltrexone, an anti-addiction drug.
Indications for Use of Contrave
Contrave, the new anti-obesity drug is indicated for adults with Body mass index of 30 (obese) and Body mass index of 27 (overweight) who have other medical conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Contrave official website claims that the anti-obesity drug must also be used concurrently with improved physical activities and computed calorie diet requirement. It suggests a 5.4 percent average weight loss of people who took Contrave for a period of 56 weeks.
How does Contrave works?
John Foreyt, PhD, professor of medicine and director of the Behavioral Medicine Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston and a leading researcher on a clinical trial of Contrave states that the anti-obesity drug has the ability to keep hunger and cravings away.
Any side effects for taking Contrave?
Contrave has side effects including nausea, headache, dizziness, constipation, dry mouth, vomiting, insomnia and diarrhea.
Although there is still no evidence that can prove that the new anti-obesity drug can pose risk on the heart, the Food and Drug Administration requires the company to finish its research including heart trials. The company is also tasked to investigate more on the effect of Contrave when taken with other drugs.
How much is the newly approved anti-obesity drug?
Contrave costs about $6 to $7 daily or approximately, $180 to $210 monthly.
If you are planning to take any anti-obesity drug, make sure to consult your doctor first. Contrave is just one of the available options to combat obesity and yet, extra precautions must be taken before trying it.
