Obesity drugs: FDA says good guns or no guns - Cardiology Today

Although it often seems as though there exists a pill to treat any disease, when it comes to obesity, this is not the case. Few drugs have dared enter the arena in the fight against obesity, and while overweight and/or obesity is rapidly becoming one of the most common comorbidities in the US, none of the available obesity medications approach the level of treatment success observed with antilipid, antihypertensive, antidiabetic agents or other agents used to treat common, chronic disorders. This, unfortunately, leaves clinicians with few options beyond the first line, non-pharmacologic treatment modalities (ie, diet and exercise) and bariatric surgery options, which while successful, can be associated with adverse outcomes, and the result may not be durable.

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Ryan Novosad, PharmD, is PGY1 pharmacy practice resident at Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville, Ala. Sara Brouse, PharmD, is associate professor of pharmacy practice and vice chair for residency programs at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy and Advanced Practice Pharmacist in Cardiology/Critical Care in Dallas.

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