Weight Management Medications
New Leaf Healthcare Limited is registered as a private clinic by the UK Government through its health regulator the Care Quality Commission. The CQC can be found at www.cqc.org.uk
The medicines prescribed by our medical staff are not available over the counter and can only be supplied through a registered clinic with fully qualified medical staff.
Phentermine is approved as an appetite suppressant to help reduce weight in obese patients when used short-term and combined with exercise, diet, and behavioral modification. It is typically prescribed for individuals who are at increased medical risk because of their weight and works by helping to release certain chemicals in the brain that control appetite.
Diethylpropion is an appetite suppressant. It works by acting on the appetite center in the brain to cause a temporary reduction in hunger or craving for food.
Reductil (Sibutramine) has been withdrawn following advice from experts that side effects can cause risk to health.
Xenical (Orlistat) is a medication that works in your digestive system to block about one-third of the fat in the food you eat from being digested. It is used along with an individually tailored low-fat diet and behavioural modification. Orlistat is itself not absorbed from the gut into the body and therefore is free from systemic side effects. As it reduces fat absorption it increases the amount of fat in the faeces – this can have some unpleasant side effects if the fat content of the diet is not reduced.
Treatment Length
Treatment with Phentermine and Diethylpropion is an initial course of 12 weeks. Further courses can be prescribed after a minimum break of two weeks at the discretion of the doctor. Reductil can be prescribed continuously for 12 months and Xenical for 24 months.
Cost
The cost of a consultation depends on the medication prescribed. If the doctor prescribes Diethylpropion the cost is £18 per week. For the newer medications, Reductil (which is far more expensive) the cost is £20 per week. This cost includes the doctor’s consultation and a weekly supply of a basic multi-vitamin.
