Qsymia is a relatively new medication that has been approved by the FDA for chronic weight management.
That means, unlike Adipex, there are no arbitrary short-term restrictions on how long you can stay on the medicine.
Ironically, Qsymia has phentermine, which is the active ingredient in Adipex. Because Qsymia also contains Topamax (topiramate), the dosage of phentermine is able to be reduced significantly. Topamax appears to potentiate the appetite suppression effect of phentermine.
This medication comes in 4 different strengths, and we made some calls to find out the cost of a 30 day supply for the doses below:
- Qsymia 3.75/23 – $159
- Qsymia 7.5/46 – $179
- Qsymia 11.25/69 – $209
- Qsymia 7.5/46 – $220
The manufacturer of Qsymia has made coupons available to us to give to patients so that they can get up to $75 off of a 1-month prescription. This coupon is re-usable for 12 months, so it can reduce the cost significantly.
Some insurance companies may cover some of the cost of this drug. In order to get a prescription the patient has to see both myself and the dietitian on a monthly basis. Follow up visits are $85.
Happy losing!
Dr. Curry
