Starting today, the newly FDA-approved diet drug Qsymia is available by prescription.
Made by Vivus Inc., the weight-loss pill is approved for obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher and overweight people, with a BMI of 27 or higher, who also have at least one weight-related condition like high blood pressure or diabetes.
The pill combines two existing drugs: phentermine, an appetite-suppressing stimulant often used for short-term weight loss, and topiramate, an anti-seizure drug that makes people feel fuller after eating.
