Tesofensine – Is all well with the new anti-obesity pill?

With so many weight reduction tablets and weight loss supplements available in the market today, the choice and the decision of what will suit you the best has become even tougher. Speaking of prescription-based weight loss pills, the same dilemma is faced by the doctor or a physician who has to decide what will work best for his or her patients, considering all the associated factors in mind e.g. patient’s lifestyle, dietary & working habits, current body mass index and health conditions etc.  You should also keep in mind that even if your doctor prescribes certain weight reduction tablet for you, it does not necessarily mean that it is completely free from side effects. In fact, clinical studies & trials have revealed quite the opposite. One of the most recent of such anti-obesity medications is Tesofensine which is currently being developed to be launched and marketed as a powerful weight loss drug.

What is Tesofensine?

Tesofensine is a currently under-developed but soon-to-be-launched anti-obesity drug that is considered as one of the most potential weight loss medications made and used as of today. According to a study published in the medical journal called Lancet (issue 2008; 372: pages: 1906-13), Tesofensine was first given to elderly people who had Alzheimer and Parkinson disease patients, who significantly dropped some pounds after using the medication for 6 months.  

How does Tesofensine work?

Tesofensine essentially works by blocking certain specific neurotransmitters (hormones) in the brain. This eventually leads to suppressed or reduced appetite and hunger. Hence, a person does not eat much and yet does not feel hungry as he or she will, otherwise. The drug also seems to reduce overall body mass, which is considered one of the most important determinants of your body weight.

Is Tesofensine safe?

Unfortunately, even during this published study, Tesofensine did show some significant side effects such as: increased heart rate (abnormally fast pulse) and high blood pressure, as well as reduced muscle mass of the body. It should be remembered that, ideally, any quick weight loss pill should aim to reduce the “fat mass” of the body, leaving the “muscle mass” intact. This was, however, not the case with Tesofensine and it also significantly caused reduction in the much-needed muscle / protein mass.

Some other side effects associated with the use of Tesofensine were dry mouth, headache, nausea, insomnia (lack of sleep), diarrhea and constipation. The study also found that as many as 13 % of the total obese people who took part in the study had to withdraw from the research because of the same safety issues.

For the same reasons, researchers agreed at the end of the study, that Tesofensine needs more clinical research, testing and monitoring, as many of the undesirable effects were found to be potentially hazardous.

Therefore, based on the on the facts and discussion, it is logical to conclude that no medical treatment to date (especially the allopathic drugs) is free of side effects or undesirable potential. In fact, if used for a long period of time, such drugs can even lead to serious health complications and would also tremendously increase your spending on the overall health costs. Practicing natural anti-obesity measures such as eating a well-balanced & healthy diet, exercising at least 30 minutes a day and choosing a natural weight loss supplement still remain the most effective measures to lose weight and gain healthy benefits of life. If chosen wisely, herbal weight loss supplements are not only considered relatively safe but are very economical and cost-effective for your savings in the long run.