Obesity and Drug Therapy

Despite diet and exercise, our weight loss process may fail. In this case, drug treatment can be started for patients with mild and moderate weight problems. Drug treatments are limited in their effectiveness due to their side effects and their inability to provide continuous weight control. We can only achieve weight loss of 5-10% with lifestyle changes and drug treatments. Drugs are usually expensive and can cause poor compliance problems. The two-year treatment continuation rate is less than 2%.

Orlistat (xenical), metformin and sibutramine (meridia) are generally used in overweight patients. Serious side effects can be seen during use. Heart palpitations and increased blood pressure can be seen in sibutramine (meridia) treatment. It can cause problems such as heart attack and stroke at a low rate. Orlistat (xenical) reduces fat absorption, but can cause intense gas, diarrhea, vitamin deficiency (fat-soluble) and gallbladder diseases. Metformin is preferred in the second-stage treatment and is used in insulin resistance, fatty liver or menstrual irregularities (polycystic ovary syndrome).