A review of topiramate and phentermine: a combined therapeutic approach for obesity. (February 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rubino, Domenica M; Gadde, Kishore M
• Is Part Of: Clinical lipidology. Volume 7:Number 1(2012)
• Page Start: 13
• Page End: 25
• Publication Date: 2012-02
• Subjects: combination drug therapy -- obesity -- pharmacotherapy -- phentermine -- teratogenicity -- topiramate -- weight loss; Lipids -- Periodicals; 616.3997
• DOI: 10.2217/clp.11.65
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1758-4299

Abstract

Effective treatment of obesity could reduce the burden of diseases primarily driven by excess body weight (e.g., Type 2 diabetes). At present, effective nonsurgical weight management tools are scarce. This paper reviews the investigational combination of phentermine, a weight-loss drug available for over half a century, and topiramate, an antiepileptic drug with known weight-loss effects, as a proposed anti-obesity intervention. The combination therapy achieves weight loss of a magnitude that meets the expectations of the US FDA along with improvement of some obesity-related risks. The safety profile is consistent with known adverse effects of individual constituents; cognitive and psychiatric adverse events were dose dependent. Other safety concerns include a small increase in heart rate and potential teratogenicity associated with topiramate.