Biomaterial Database

Pharmacologic therapies for obesity. 2010

Lee M Kaplan

MGH Weight Center and Gastrointestinal Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 50 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. LMKaplan@partners.org

This article examines the transitions in pharmacological therapy for obesity. It reviews the current options approved by the Food and Drug Administration and several drugs approved for other indications that can be used to treat obesity as well. Because weight regulation is complex and redundant systems protect against perceived starvation, optimal treatment of obesity in individual patients will likely require different combinations of behavioral, nutritional, pharmacologic, endoscopic, and surgical therapies.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007783	Lactones	Cyclic esters of hydroxy carboxylic acids, containing a 1-oxacycloalkan-2-one structure. Large cyclic lactones of over a dozen atoms are MACROLIDES.	Lactone
D009271	Naltrexone	Derivative of noroxymorphone that is the N-cyclopropylmethyl congener of NALOXONE. It is a narcotic antagonist that is effective orally, longer lasting and more potent than naloxone, and has been proposed for the treatment of heroin addiction. The FDA has approved naltrexone for the treatment of alcohol dependence.	Antaxone,Celupan,EN-1639A,Nalorex,Naltrexone Hydrochloride,Nemexin,ReVia,Trexan,EN 1639A,EN1639A
D009765	Obesity	A status with BODY WEIGHT that is grossly above the recommended standards, usually due to accumulation of excess FATS in the body. The standards may vary with age, sex, genetic or cultural background. In the BODY MASS INDEX, a BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 is considered obese, and a BMI greater than 40.0 kg/m2 is considered morbidly obese (MORBID OBESITY).
D010645	Phentermine	A central nervous system stimulant and sympathomimetic with actions and uses similar to those of DEXTROAMPHETAMINE. It has been used most frequently in the treatment of obesity.	Adipex-P,Duromine,Ionamine,Phentermine Hydrochloride,Adipex P,AdipexP,Hydrochloride, Phentermine
D003503	Cyclobutanes	Four carbon cycloparaffin cyclobutane (the structural formula (CH2)4) and its derivatives.
D004809	Ephedrine	A phenethylamine found in EPHEDRA SINICA. PSEUDOEPHEDRINE is an isomer. It is an alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonist that may also enhance release of norepinephrine. It has been used for asthma, heart failure, rhinitis, and urinary incontinence, and for its central nervous system stimulatory effects in the treatment of narcolepsy and depression. It has become less extensively used with the advent of more selective agonists.	Ephedrine Hydrochloride,Ephedrine Renaudin,Ephedrine Sulfate,Erythro Isomer of Ephedrine,Sal-Phedrine,Ephedrine Erythro Isomer,Hydrochloride, Ephedrine,Renaudin, Ephedrine,Sal Phedrine,SalPhedrine,Sulfate, Ephedrine
D005277	Fenfluramine	A centrally active drug that apparently both blocks serotonin uptake and provokes transport-mediated serotonin release.	Fintepla,Fenfluramine Hydrochloride,Fenfluramine Hydrochloride, (+-)-Isomer,Fenfluramine Hydrochloride, R-Isomer,Fenfluramine, (+-)-Isomer,Fenfluramine, R-Isomer,Isomeride,Pondimin,Fenfluramine Hydrochloride, R Isomer,Fenfluramine, R Isomer,Hydrochloride, Fenfluramine
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000077403	Orlistat	A lactone derivative of LEUCINE that acts as a pancreatic lipase inhibitor to limit the absorption of dietary fat; it is used in the management of obesity.	1-((3-Hexyl-4-oxo-2-oxetanyl)methyl)dodecyl-2-formamido-4-methylvalerate,Alli,Ro-18-0647,THLP,Tetrahydrolipastatin,Tetrahydrolipstatin,Xenical,Ro 18 0647
D001067	Appetite Depressants	Agents that are used to suppress appetite.	Anorectic,Anorectic Agent,Anorectics,Anorexic Drug,Anorexigenic Drug,Appetite Depressant,Appetite Suppressant,Appetite Suppressants,Appetite-Depressing Drug,Appetite-Suppressant Drug,Anorectic Agents,Anorexic Drugs,Anorexigenic Drugs,Appetite-Depressing Drugs,Appetite-Suppressant Drugs,Agent, Anorectic,Agents, Anorectic,Appetite Depressing Drug,Appetite Depressing Drugs,Appetite Suppressant Drug,Appetite Suppressant Drugs,Depressant, Appetite,Depressants, Appetite,Drug, Anorexic,Drug, Anorexigenic,Drug, Appetite-Depressing,Drug, Appetite-Suppressant,Drugs, Anorexic,Drugs, Anorexigenic,Drugs, Appetite-Depressing,Drugs, Appetite-Suppressant,Suppressant, Appetite,Suppressants, Appetite