Title:Combination Therapy: A New Tool for the Management of Obesity
Volume: 24
Issue: 4
Author(s): Pranav Kumar Prabhakar*
Affiliation:
- Department of Research Impact and Outcome, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, 144411, India
Keywords:
Obesity, insulin, topiramate, bariatric, orlistat, combination, Na-glucose cotransporter-2, phentermine.
Abstract: Obesity is a chronic lifestyle issue with devastating results. Behavioral changes are one
of the initial lines of management strategies for obesity, but they are not very efficient management
strategies. Many people also use surgical intervention to maintain a healthy weight, now
considered to be the most common and effective obesity management. Chemically synthesized
medicines fill the gap between lifestyle interventions and minimally invasive surgical management
of obesity. The most common issue associated with monotherapy without side effects is its moderate
effectiveness and higher dose requirement. Combination therapy is already used for many serious
and complicated disease treatments and management and has shown efficacy as well. Generally,
we use two or more medicines with different mechanisms of action for a better effect. The commonly
used combination therapy for obesity management includes low-dose phentermine and prolonged
and slow-releasing mechanism topiramate; naltrexone, and bupropion. Phentermine with
inhibitors of Na-glucose cotransporter-2 or glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists with gastric
hormone or Na-glucose cotransporter-2 are two more viable combo therapy. This combination
strategy aims to achieve success in bariatric surgery and the scientific community is working in
this direction.