Reclaiming Control: PCOS Medication For Weight Loss
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) brings various symptoms ranging from mild to severe and affects a woman’s well-being.
One such symptom is weight gain. It is widely seen in many women with PCOS.
According to Clinical Medicine Insights, 38-88% of women with PCOS are overweight or obese.
However, there are many PCOS medications for weight loss.
Continue reading to learn some of the essential medicines for PCOS to lose weight.
Oral contraceptives
While oral contraceptives are primarily used for birth control, they can also help manage PCOS symptoms, including weight gain.
A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of oral contraceptive use on weight loss following a 500-kcal reduction diet intervention for one month.
Women aged 18-25 years were divided into an oral contraceptive use group and no hormonal contraception use group.
The results showed that the group which took oral contraceptives lost more weight than women who didn’t administer them.
Metformin
Metformin is an oral medication commonly used to manage Diabetes, but it has also been proven effective in treating PCOS-related symptoms, including weight loss.
According to the American Family Physician, Metformin is probably the first-line agent for obesity or weight reduction in patients with PCOS.
A study was conducted to learn the effectiveness of Metformin on weight loss in non-diabetic individuals with obesity.
154 patients were given Metformin up to a dosage of 2,500 mg daily for six months.
The results proved Metformin is an effective drug for weight reduction in overweight and obese patients.
Orlistat
Orlistat, commonly marketed as Xenical or Alli, is a medication used for weight loss management in individuals with PCOS.
To learn about its efficacy, a comparative study was conducted on Metformin and Orlistat on women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
90 PCOS women were randomly assigned to receive either of the two drugs in combination with lifestyle interventions or as controls, where they received lifestyle interventions alone.
The results showed that Orlistat and Metformin were more effective in reducing weight.
Moreover, fewer side effects were reported with Orlistat.
Anti-Androgen medications
Women with PCOS often have an increased level of Testosterone.
A study stated that sex hormones play essential roles in regulating appetite and eating behavior in women.
It claimed that Testosterone may stimulate appetite.
This can increase cravings for foods that contain high amounts of fats and calories, contributing to weight gain.
Thus anti-Androgen medicines, such as Spironolactone (Aldactone), can be helpful here.
These medications work by blocking the Androgen receptors, which reduces the production of Androgens.
Thus, helping to curb the appetite and craving for food.
Appetite-suppressant medications
Appetite-suppressant medications are sometimes prescribed to assist women with PCOS in their weight loss efforts.
These medications work by reducing hunger cravings and helping individuals feel full for longer periods, leading to decreased calorie consumption.
Here are some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved prescription appetite-suppressant medications:
- Qsymia (Phentermine/Topiramate)
- Contrave (Naltrexone/Bupropion)
- Liraglutide (Saxenda)
- Diethylpropion (Tenuate dospan)
Acarbose
Acarbose is another PCOS medication for weight loss.
A study was conducted in which Acarbose was given to obese patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
30 eligible women were treated with 150 mg/day Acarbose or Placebo for six months.
The results showed that a low dose of Acarbose promotes a reduction in their weight.
Sibutramine
Sibutramine is a drug that can be used as a PCOS weight loss medication.
Its effectiveness was studied in a clinical trial.
In this, 40 obese women with PCOS were evaluated. They were divided into three groups.
- Group 1 was treated with oral Ethinyl Estradiol-Cyproterone Acetate (EE-CPA)- 35 microg-2 mg/day
- Group 2 with oral Sibutramine- 10 mg/day
- Group 3 with a combination of EE-CPA plus Sibutramine
They were treated for six months and advised to consume a 1200 kcal/day diet.
The results showed that a reduction in Body Mass Index (BMI) was reported in every group.
However, the waist-to-hip ratio was significantly reduced only in the Sibutramine group.
GLP-1 receptor agonists
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a class of medications primarily used to manage Type 2 Diabetes.
However, recent studies have shown promising results regarding their effectiveness in promoting weight loss in women with PCOS.
It helps in reducing BMI and waist circumference more than Metformin.
Takeaway
Weight gain is a prime symptom of PCOS. Thus, many PCOS medications for weight loss are available in the market to combat this.
Oral contraceptives have shown promising results in weight loss, providing an additional benefit beyond their primary use for birth control.
Metformin, a medication commonly used for Diabetes management, has also proven effective in addressing PCOS-related symptoms, including weight reduction.
Orlistat has demonstrated effectiveness in combination with lifestyle interventions for women with PCOS. It has fewer reported side effects compared to other medications.
Anti-androgen medications such as Spironolactone can help counteract the effects of increased Testosterone levels, reducing appetite and cravings.
Prescription appetite-suppressant medications like Acarbose, Sibutramine, etc., have also shown promise in supporting weight loss efforts for women with PCOS.
However, exercising and eating healthy should always be kept in mind along with these medicines.
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