Phentermine and topiramate extended-release for the obesity: new kids on the block

Abstract

Obesity is a major public health concern associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Its prevalence is rising worldwide mainly due to modern lifestyle habits. Several mechanisms like inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, increased sympathetic tone, high leptin and insulin concentrations as well as enhanced thrombogenesis are implicated to the emergence and progress of cardiovascular disease. Although, changes in the lifestyle remain the cornerstone of antiobesity treatment, alone do not always provide the desired weight loss. Often, the addition of pharmacotherapy or bariatric surgery is considered the treating option for patients meeting eligibility criteria. Although, bariatric surgery is limited to patients with a high body mass index due to the risks of the procedures, the effects of anti-obesity medication on cardiovascular outcome are still unclear. Several anti-obesity drugs have been abandoned because of serious adverse events. Qsymia is a combination of phentermine and topiramate used for obesity treatment. Administration of this drug reduces body weight and has favorable effects in various metabolic and anthropometric parameters. However, there are concerns regarding cardiovascular safety of this drug. In this review, we are going to present the history of current antiobesity medication focusing on the combination of phentermine and topiramate and recent patents.