“Prescription medication doubles to triples the odds of losing 5-10% body weight (or more)” - Obesity Medicine Association
When diet and exercise alone don’t lead to effective weight loss, medication may be able to work with your body to help you lose weight. As part of Found’s personalized weight care program, the medical team works with qualifying members to prescribe medication to help reach their weight loss goal. One of the prescription drugs the Found medical team may offer is phentermine, an FDA-approved medication for weight loss.
What is phentermine?
Phentermine is an FDA-approved medication that physicians commonly prescribe for weight loss. It works by:
Suppressing appetite
Making you feel full longer
Like other prescription weight-loss drugs, patients should use phentermine as part of an overall weight loss program. This is why it is just one piece of Found’s weight care plan, in conjunction with the other Found pillars: nutrition, mindful eating, movement, sleep, and emotional health.
Who can take phentermine?
The criteria for those who are eligible for phentermine is:
Your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or greater, or
Your BMI is 27 or greater, and you have other risk factors related to obesity, such as diabetes, controlled high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.
Although phentermine is an effective weight loss aid, it isn’t appropriate for everyone. The Found medical team evaluates each member to determine what medication, if any, will be appropriate, helping ensure that what we prescribe is safe and effective for the individual. People with heart disease, coronary artery disease, hyperthyroidism, glaucoma, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or who are pregnant or nursing shouldn’t take phentermine. Also, people who have a history of substance abuse and those currently taking other weight loss medications or supplements shouldn’t take phentermine.
Common side effects of phentermine include:
Increased heart rate
Tingling or prickling feeling in hands or feet
Dry mouth
Sleeplessness
Nervousness
Constipation
How effective are prescription drugs for weight loss?
The Mayo Clinic says, “prescription weight-loss drugs approved for long-term use (more than 12 weeks) produce significant weight loss compared with placebo. The combination of weight-loss medication and lifestyle changes results in greater weight loss than lifestyle changes do alone.”*
At Found, the combination of prescription drugs, lifestyle changes, and online support helps members lose an average of 10 percent of their body weight in 6 months.
*Phentermine is approved for short-term use. The medical team can talk to you about what dosing regimen may be right for you.
Moving forward with Found:
The Found journey starts with a health quiz. Your results determine the specific path that is the best fit for you. The “Rx Path” is Found’s most common plan. If you’re eligible, you’ll meet virtually with a board-certified medical provider specializing in weight care who will take the time to understand your specific situation and prescribe the proper medications for you. Medicines used for weight loss can work in different ways. No one medicine is appropriate for everyone, which is why Found works with a medical team and pharmacy to provide members access to the broadest set of prescription medications on the market.
If you’re ready for a plan that leverages the power of modern science, click below to start the quiz.
*Patients should consult with their doctor to determine what medicine, if any, is appropriate.