Rapid Rx Quiz: Semaglutide

A recent systematic literature review summarized the latest evidence on weight-lowering drugs. Researchers examined data from 143 clinical trials, with a total of 49,801 participants, that assessed the proportion of patients who achieved at least a 5% weight reduction on different medications compared with lifestyle interventions. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, had larger benefits than other drugs with a similar risk for adverse events for both likelihood of weight loss of 5% or more (odds ratio, 9.82; 95% CI, 7.09-13.61) and percentage body weight change (mean difference, 11.41; 95% CI, 12.54 to -10.27).

Phentermine-topiramate was found to be potentially the most effective drug for weight loss of all the available medications for treatment of overweight and obesity, followed by GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide. However, odds of discontinuation due to adverse events were greater for both liraglutide and phentermine-topiramate than semaglutide; that factor itself was found to produce the largest likelihood of a weight reduction of 5% or more relative to lifestyle interventions among three GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide, liraglutide, and exenatide).

Semaglutide also delivered better results than lifestyle interventions, phentermine-topiramate, and other medications for participants who were significantly more likely to experience at least a 10% weight loss. Mean weight change from baseline was greatest with semaglutide.

Learn more about semaglutide for weight management.

Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.

Cite this: Mary L. Windle. Rapid Rx Quiz: Semaglutide - Medscape - Jan 20, 2022.

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