New centrally acting agents for appetite control: from biological mechanisms to clinical efficacy

Abstract Background: Obesity is one of the major problems of health policy in different countries. Pharmacological attempts have been made to help affected people without a definitive solution. Some agents - either with peripheral or central effect - are available in the market. On July 2012, the FD...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current medical research and opinion 2014-06, Vol.30 (6), p.961-969
Main Authors: Catoira, Natalia Paola, Viale, Luciano, Di Girolamo, Guillermo, Gonzalez, Claudio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Appetite control
Appetite Depressants - pharmacology
Appetite Depressants - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Central Nervous System Stimulants - pharmacology
Central Nervous System Stimulants - therapeutic use
Humans
Lorcaserin
Medical sciences
Metabolic diseases
Obesity
Obesity - drug therapy
Pharmacological treatment
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
phentermine
Topiramate
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Summary:Abstract Background: Obesity is one of the major problems of health policy in different countries. Pharmacological attempts have been made to help affected people without a definitive solution. Some agents - either with peripheral or central effect - are available in the market. On July 2012, the FDA approved two novel preparations for obese patients: (1) topiramate-phentermine - the first one an anticonvulsant and the second one a sympathomimetic amine - and (2) lorcaserin, a 5-HT2CR agonist. Both preparations emerged as new options for weight management. Scope: Based on the complex biology of eating behavior, in this review we discuss the features, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, advantages and possible disadvantages of these new agents. Conclusion: With differences in efficacy (higher for the topiramate-phentermine combination), both preparations are active in reducing appetite and body weight, as well as in improving comorbidities. Additional information will be collected from Phase IV surveillance. Focus on cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric (for both introductions) and embrio-fetal safety (especially for topiramate) is expected.
ISSN:0300-7995
1473-4877
DOI:10.1185/03007995.2014.884494