Two new diet drugs to hit market
To fill demand caused by the diet medications Redux and fenfluramine (phen-fen) being pulled off the market, two new diet drugs will be released within a few months, according to the May 12 issue of Woman's Day. The new drugs are Meridia (subutramine) and Xenical (orlistat).
Meridia (Knoll Pharmaceutical Co., Mount Olive, NJ):
· works by acting on chemicals in the brain to suppress appetite;
· is available to anyone with a body mass index of 30 or higher;
· lists possible side effects of insomnia, constipation, and headaches.
Louis Aronne, MD, at New York Hospital/ Cornell Medical center, says that people have not found the side effects to be significant enough to stop using the medication.
Xenical (Rouche Pharmaceuticals, Nutley, NJ):
· works by preventing the absorption of fat in the intestines;
· is available to anyone with a body mass index of 30 or higher;
· is well-suited for people with history of heart attack or stroke who have difficulty taking an appetite suppressant that works as a stimulant;
· lists possible side effects of oily or loose stools from eating too much fat.
With Xenical, Aronne says his patients have expressed very little problem with oily or loose stools. If they do experience this side effect, it can be corrected by reducing the intake of fat.
Patients may choose which drug to take according to their personal preference about which side effects they want to avoid. They might also consider the manner in which the drug works. Aronne reminds patients these drugs are not a cure-all but should be used along with and exercise and diet plan.
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