As I Was Saying...

As I predicted, hhe FDA has approved Qnexa - under the new name Qsymia.  See the announcement below that I recieved via Email yesterday.ASBP stands for American Society of Bariatric Physicians, of which I am a member.  Remember - you can get the generic components of this medicine right now at Physician Assisted Weight Loss.  If you need a jumpstart this is a good way to get "back on top of your diet game".

Obesity Medicine e-Weekly

News ASBP and American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) release joint statement today applauding the FDA's approval of Qsymia (aka Qnexa) ASBP is pleased to announce to you that earlier today the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved Qsymia (also known as Qnexa prior to its approval). This marks the second time this year that the agency has approved a new obesity treatment drug--not one that just helps weight loss. Read the joint ASBP-ASMBS news release as well as the FDA's official press announcement. Look forward to seeing you at the office.  What are you waiting for? All you have to lose is more weight. Doctor Simonds

New Obesity Medicine Treatment

NEW OBESITY MEDICINE UPDATE

For those who watch the news, you may have noticed that the FDA is considering a new diet drug for approval in 2012.  As of right now, it seems to be on the fast track for approval.  The name of the drug is Qnexa and it is manufactured by Vivus.  Dr. Simonds wants to give you the “scoop” in advance.  Qnexa is a combination of 2 older drugs – phentermine and topirimate.  The phentermine is a drug we all know about.  Read on for more.

Topiramate is the generic form of the drug Topamax.  It was initially approved 15 years ago by the FDA for treatment of seizure disorder.  It now is used by physicians to treat multiple disorders such as migrane headaches, depression, neuropathy, obesity, etc. 

There are two helpful side effects of this drug that make it useful in the treatment of obesity.  First, in a majority of patients who take it, they will report a change in the taste of and desire for processed carbohydrates – sugary drinks, snacks, breads, etc.  This change leads to reduced consumption of these items in the diet.  Naturally, this promotes weight loss.  Second, topiramate is known to curb binge eating in many of the patients who take it.  The reduction in binge eating also promotes weight loss.  Doctor Simonds has been prescribing this drug with phentermine since 2005.  However, it was not available in a generic form, and the cost was prohibitive to patients, which limited its use.  Now it is available in an inexpensive generic form.

The Good News – At PAWL, we now carry this drug, and it can be added to your medicine regimen to help you lose weight!  In other words, you can take the components of Qnexa  now – even before it comes to market.  It is inexpensive, and it can be used along with almost all prescription medicines with no interaction.  It is a nice drug to add to your regimen if your weight loss has slowed, or if you just need a “jumpstart.”  A final advantage to using this drug combination at PAWL, is that we use phentermine at its normal, effective dosages.  Qnexa only has 15mg of phentermine.  As most of you know, this dose is entirely too low to adequately suppress your appetite.  At PAWL, we tailor the dosages of phentermine and topiramate to your specific needs to get the best result. 

If you are interested in adding this drug to your regimen, let us know at your next follow up, or call and make an appointment today. 

Attitude

How To Improve Your Attitude

Do you have what it takes to reach your weight-loss goals? If you think it's all about diet and exercise, you're wrong.
It sounds crazy, I know. Exercise and a proper diet are crucial to all weight-loss and fitness programs. But to reach any long-term goal — especially one that requires a major lifestyle change — you need to improve your attitude too. You can have all the external support in the world, but if your self-esteem is in the toilet, you'll never have long-term success.
Having the right attitude is so important because thought is behavior. The power of the mind is total — the way you think about yourself manifests as your reality. We all know how easily negative thoughts can lead to lack of confidence, hopelessness, and depression. You've heard about self-fulfilling prophecy, right? Well, if you tell yourself that you'll always be fat or you'll never find happiness, chances are you'll end up fat and unhappy. Hey, it makes sense.
Okay then, let's turn that scenario around. Tell yourself that you can get fit and you will be happy. It's that simple. You can master your own fate with positive thinking!

Test Yourself

To see whether your thoughts are predominantly positive or negative, test yourself. It sounds extreme, but you only need to do it once: Carry a small notebook around for an entire day. Each time a thought about yourself pops into your head, write it down and assess whether it's positive or negative. At the end of the day, tally your positive and negative thoughts. Even if you already suspect you lean toward the negative, seeing those thoughts on paper might give you the kick you need! When you change your attitude, you'll change your life.