Obesity management medications fall into a few major categories based on how they work, how they’re taken, how strong their effects are, and who they’re best suited for. All options require a prescription and should be chosen with guidance from your clinician based on a variety of factors that might include: medical history, goals, cost, and tolerance. Below is an overview of obesity management medications:

¹ STEP-1 trial found adult patients taking 2.4 mg semaglutide weekly achieved average weight loss of 15% after 68 weeks. Additionally, about 1 in 3 patients achieved 20% or more weight loss.
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‍²  SURMOUNT-1 trial found adult patients taking 5mg of tirzepatide achieved average weight reductions of 15.4%; adult patients taking 10mg of tirzepatide achieved average weight reductions of 19.9%; and adult patients taking 15 mg of tirzepatide achieved average weight reductions of 22.9%, compared to placebo (2.1%) at week 72. 
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³In the OASIS 4 study, oral semaglutide 25 mg taken once daily demonstrated 16.6% mean weight loss when treatment was adhered to in adult participants with obesity or overweight with one or more comorbidities.

 ⁴ CONQUER trial found adult patients taking 7.5/46 mg of Qsymia^® lost an average of ~7.8% of body weight; adult patients taking 15/92 mg of Qsymia^® lost ~9.8%, compared with ~1.2% for placebo at 56 weeks.

 ⁵ COR-BMOD trial found adult patients taking Contrave^® lost 8.1% (18 lbs) of their starting body weight vs 4.9% (11 lbs) with diet and exercise alone. COR-I trial found adult patients taking Contrave^® lost 5.4% (12 lbs) of their starting body weight vs 1.3%
(3 lbs) with diet and exercise alone.

The following medications require a prescription.‍

When choosing a weight-management medication, clinicians look at several key factors:

Conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, migraines, or mood disorders influence which options are safest, most effective, and least likely to interact with existing health issues or medications.

Clinicians look at a patient’s target weight-loss percentage. Different treatments produce different average results, so goals such as achieving around 5–10%, 10–15%, or 15%+ total body weight reduction help guide which category of therapy is most appropriate.

Prices vary widely among treatment types, and insurance coverage, cash-pay programs, and manufacturer savings offers can dramatically change out-of-pocket costs. Many patients ultimately choose a medication based on realistic long-term affordability.

Each medication category comes with its own pattern of common side effects. Some treatments are more likely to cause gastrointestinal symptoms, while others may lead to things like tingling sensations, dry mouth, changes in mood, sleep disturbances, or blood pressure changes. Matching a patient’s tolerance and sensitivities to the expected side-effect profile is essential.

Some people prefer injectable treatments while others want oral daily medications. Others base their choice on whether they want stronger appetite suppression, more craving control, or a specific dosing schedule. Aligning the treatment to a patient’s lifestyle and comfort level helps support long-term success.