Qsymia vs. Qnexa: What’s the diff?
This took me a while to figure out…first I kept seeing all this info about Qnexa (Phentermine/Topiramate). Then, all of a sudden I see that the FDA approved a drug called Qsymia for weight loss. Turns out, they’re the same. I guess they decided to change the name!
Anyways this is a combination of two drugs that have been around for awhile. Phentermine is the generic name for a drug called Adipex, which is an anorectic, or apetite suppressant. Topiramate was originally an anti-seizure medication. Both drugs have been used to help patients lose weight.
Qsymia/Qnexa is just a single pill that combines both of these medications. Patients who used the drug in the studies that were done prior to approval lost about 10 percent of their body weight – so a 300 lb patient lost around 30 pounds.
We have been using phentermine and topiramate for a while in Cincinnati to help our patients lose weight. Whether we end up using this drug depends on the cost, as individually these drugs are affordable as they have been around awhile.
Trace Curry MD
www.journeylite.com