Weight Management Medicine Information

This page provides more information on medications that are used in some weight loss service PGDs.

Please note: This page extracts key information about each medicine only. Please refer to each individual SmPC for full details of each medication before you provide PGD services or advise your customers.

 

Saxenda®

Drug name Liraglutide
Formulation Solution for injection in pre-filled pen
Indication Saxenda® is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management in adult patients with an initial Body Mass Index (BMI) of:

• ≥30 kg/m² (obesity), or

• ≥27 kg/m² to <30 kg/m² (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbidity such as dysglycaemia (pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus), hypertension, dyslipidaemia or obstructive sleep apnoea.

Dose Adults

The starting dose is 0.6 mg once daily. The dose should be increased to 3.0 mg once daily in increments of 0.6 mg with at least one week intervals to improve gastro-intestinal tolerability (see table 1). If escalation to the next dose step is not tolerated for two consecutive weeks, consider discontinuing treatment. Daily doses higher than 3.0 mg are not recommended.

SmPC https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/2313

 

 Xenical®

Drug name Orlistat
Formulation Oral capsule
Indication Xenical® is indicated in conjunction with a mildly hypocaloric diet for the treatment of obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) greater or equal to 30 kg/m2, or overweight patients (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2) with associated risk factors.
Dose Adults

The recommended dose of orlistat is one 120 mg capsule taken with water immediately before, during or up to one hour after each main meal. If a meal is missed or contains no fat, the dose of orlistat should be omitted.

SmPC https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/2592#INDICATIONS

 

Mysimba®

Drug name Naltrexone hydrochloride/bupropion hydrochloride
Formulation Prolonged-release table
Indication Mysimba®is indicated, as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, for the management of weight in adult patients (≥18 years) with an initial Body Mass Index (BMI) of:

• ≥ 30 kg/m2 (obese), or

• ≥ 27 kg/m2 to < 30 kg/m2 (overweight) in the presence of one or more weight-related co-morbidities (e.g. type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia, or controlled hypertension)

Dose Upon initiating treatment, the dose should be escalated over a 4-week period as follows:

• Week 1: One tablet in the morning

• Week 2: One tablet in the morning and one tablet in the evening

• Week 3: Two tablets in the morning and one tablet in the evening

• Week 4 and onwards: Two tablets in the morning and two tablets in the evening

The maximum recommended daily dose of Mysimba® is two tablets taken twice daily for a total dose of 32 mg naltrexone hydrochloride and 360 mg bupropion hydrochloride.

SmPC https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/2684#POSOLOGY

 

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