Pharmacies, influenced by regulatory pressures from the DEA and state boards to prevent drug abuse, often avoid filling prescriptions for controlled substances, including appetite suppressants.

 

Despite scientific evidence and professional endorsements of their safety and efficacy, these suppressants are categorized similarly to opioids.

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There is a growing need for prescription weight management as obesity is on the rise. Obesity is a disease process, just like high blood pressure or diabetes, with significant consequences for your health.

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Yet pharmacies and state boards have prioritized curbing controlled substance availability over the scientific and ethical reasoning for prescribing appetite suppressants, exacerbating the challenge of addressing rising obesity rates.   

 

If you have noticed the declining support and availability of appetite suppressants, this is the reasoning.

 

We will continue trying to help you on your weight loss journey. Please just be patient with us as we work through these difficult times. We do care, and we do recognize the need for prescriptive help.

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SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES

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"The most frequent AEs reported in this study included insomnia and dry mouth…We expected a rise in blood pressure following the administration of this medication, but no significant difference in blood pressure was noted…In conclusion, we found that phentermine is significantly effective for weight loss."

https://www.kjfm.or.kr/journal/view.php?doi=10.4082/kjfm.2013.34.5.298

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"Recommendations to limit phentermine use to less than 3 months do not align with current concepts of pharmacological treatment for patients with obesity. Our results show that longer-term phentermine users experienced greater weight loss without apparent increases in cardiovascular risk." 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.22430

 

"Phentermine/topiramate reduced body weight and was well tolerated..it increased the risk of nervous system-related adverse events to a certain extent, but the symptoms were not serious."

https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.26.20215475

 

"Phentermine monotherapy is an effective and safe means for weight loss in pediatric patients when combined with lifestyle interventions…(70%) patients achieved at least a 5% decrease in BMI…within a mean duration of treatment of 10 months. We noted no severe adverse events."

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/chi.2022.0147

 

"…Experts insist that if the initial three-month effect on weight reduction is acceptable…the prolonged administration of phentermine is appropriate."

https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2006.47.5.614

 

"Obesity… is reaching global epidemic proportions… Excess weight is associated with increased mortality, chronic morbidity (including type 2 diabetes, arterial hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers), decreased quality of life, and considerable health care costs…However, it will be necessary for medical authorities to persuade … drug-regulating agencies … must evaluate antiobesity drugs just as they do… for other complex diseases (such as hypertension)…"

https://doi.org/10.2337/dc11-s255

 

"… In addition, long-term phentermine was safe and well-tolerated at both doses. Approximately 80% of subjects could benefit from the continuation of phentermine…"

https://doi.org/10.5414/CP203943

 

"Available evidence indicates that weight loss drugs have a definite role alongside diet and exercise in the battle against one of our nation's most pressing health problems. …evidence indicates that the obesity drugs that we have are …unassociated with the rare, but potentially serious, adverse effects that have received so much recent publicity."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC546419/

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