Add-On Meds Stop Weight Regain After Bariatric Surgery

Adjuvant weight loss medications effectively stop weight regain in patients who receive bariatric surgery, according to a recent study.

Some patients who undergo bariatric surgery do not achieve optimal weight loss or experience weight regain following the procedure.
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For their study, the researchers assessed the efficacy of adjuvant weight loss medications in 209 patients who received bariatric surgery. Patients were prescribed phentermine (n = 156), phentermine/topiramate extended release (n = 25), lorcaserin (n = 18), or naltrexone slow release/bupropion slow release (n = 10).

Results of the study showed that 37% of participants had lost at least 5% of their total weight 1 year after weight loss medications were first prescribed.

The researchers noted that there had been significant differences in weight loss at 1 year in gastric banding (4.6%) vs sleeve gastrectomy (0.3%) patients and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (2.8%) vs sleeve gastrectomy (0.3%) patients.

They also observed a significant positive correlation between body mass index upon the initiation of weight loss medications and total weight loss at 1 year.

“Adjuvant weight loss medications halted weight regain in patients who underwent bariatric surgery,” the researchers concluded. “Given the low risk of medications compared with revisional surgery, it can be a reasonable option in the appropriate patients. Further studies are necessary to determine the optimal medication and timing of adjuvant pharmacotherapy after bariatric surgery.”

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Hanipah ZN, Nasr EC, Bucak E, et al. Efficacy of adjuvant weight loss medication after bariatric surgery. Surg Obes Rel Dis. 2018;14(1):93-98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2017.10.002.