Pharmacologic Therapy

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Transformations offers behavioral therapy using a regimen of medication coupled with nutritional and physical activity counselling.  The use of prescription appetite suppressants can create a window of time where instituting actual regular healthy diet habits can become more achievable.  Throughout the treatment, patients are provided with an individual diet plan and exercise regimen which includes weekly meal planning and exercise routines designed by Transformations' weight Loss Coaches.

Medication consists of three combined medications. (Phentermine HCl 37.5mg, Chromium Picolinate 200mg, and Furosemide 20mg)

Phentermine HCl 37.5mg (Adipex)

 Phentermine is structurally similar to amphetamine and modulates noradrenergic neurotransmission to decrease appetite; however, it has little or no effect on dopaminergic neurotransmission, which decreases its potential for abuse.  The use of phentermine as a single agent is usually limited by an intolerance to its stimulatory activity. 

How Phentermine Works

This weight loss drug is classified as anorectic— an agent that diminishes a person's appetite. Phentermine stimulates the release of brain chemicals that will manipulate your mind to curb your appetite, so you feel full and eat less. Your calorie intake can be minimized by the drug's ability to reduce the absorption of things like starch and fat by the body, so they are not metabolized. The slimming drug is used alongside a diet and exercise program specifically designed for you by your doctor to keep the pounds off. The diet pill should also be an addition to an overall weight-loss plan if you're several pounds above your normal target weight, says the Mayo Clinic.

 According to the National Library of Medicine, phentermine's primary mode of action is that of a sympathomimetic amine, meaning that it increases the body's release of catecholamines, specifically, epinephrine and norepinephrine, and possibly dopamine, as well. These catecholamines cause a decrease in appetite and an increase in energy expenditure by their influence on a variety of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. Quite simply, when you are taking phentermine, you tend to feel less hungry but more energetic and alert. Increased energy expenditure will burn more calories. Weight loss results from a combination of these influences. 

How much weight you will lose varies from person to person and depends on a number of factors: the diet that you follow, the drug dosage taken, your starting weight, your gender and any number of other genetic and environmental variables.  Most Transformations patients that follow the Transformations Diet and Exercise plan lose between 1-4 pounds per week on our medication regimen.

Topiramate (Topamax)

Topamax is the brand name of a generic medication called topiramate. It’s an anticonvulsant medication that’s used to treat conditions like epilepsy, migraine headaches, and alcohol use disorder. Topamax is great for treating conditions like this, but many people who take it will experience weight loss as a main side effect.

How Does it Work 

Topamax causes weight loss because it affects the appetite. People who take it and have a reduced appetite may feel hungry less often and eat less because of this. Studies have shown that Topamax may also speed up metabolism, which means that the body would be digesting food quicker than normal. 

Chromium Picolinate

 Chromium is a mineral that exists in several forms.  This safe form, trivalent chromium, is typically considered essential, meaning that it must be obtained from the diet.  Chromium Picolinate serves several important functions in the body.  It is part of a molecule called chromodulin, which helps the hormone insulin perform its actions in the body. 

Insulin, a molecule released by the pancreas, is important in your body’s processing of carbs, fat and protein.  Interestingly, the absorption of chromium in the intestines is very low, with less than 2.5% of ingested chromium being absorbed.  However, chromium picolinate is an alternate form of chromium that is absorbed better.  Chromium picolinate is the mineral chromium attached to three molecules of picolinic acid.

In healthy people, the hormone insulin has an important role in signaling the body to bring blood sugar into the cells of the body.  In people with diabetes, there are problems with the body’s normal response to insulin.  Several studies have indicated that taking chromium supplements can improve blood sugar for those with diabetes.  Studies show that 16 weeks of 200 μg/day of chromium was able to lower blood sugar and insulin while improving the body’s response to insulin.  Other research has shown that those with higher blood sugar and lower insulin sensitivity may respond better to chromium supplements.

In an 8-week study, 1,000 μg/day of chromium (in the form of chromium picolinate) reduced food intake, hunger and cravings in healthy overweight women.  The researchers reported that the effects of chromium on the brain may have produced these effects.  Other research has examined people with binge-eating disorder or depression, as these groups could potentially benefit the most from suppressing cravings or hunger.  An 8-week study assigned 113 people with depression to receive either 600 μg/day of chromium in the form of chromium picolinate or a placebo.  The researchers found that appetite and cravings were reduced with chromium picolinate supplements, compared to the placebo.  Additionally, a small study observed possible benefits in people suffering from binge-eating disorder.  Specifically, doses of 600 to 1,000 μg/day may have led to reductions in the frequency of binge eating episodes and symptoms of depression.

Furosemide (Lasix)

Getting rid of excess moisture - the way to good health and weight loss! For this purpose, special drinks and enemas are used, but Furosemide (Lasix) is the best choice. The drug is a diuretic, that is, it belongs to the diuretic group (it increases the rate of urine formation). As soon as the body leaves excess moisture, hips, buttocks and waist are pulled up - the so-called "problematic" places. Diuretics help to quickly and effectively cope with the removal of water from the cells. This is the best method of express slimming for the lazy and busy. The main active substance of the diuretic is furosemide (40mg). 

Diuretic is not a miracle cure, permanently rid of old fatty deposits. This takes more than one month, and regular weight loss on a diuretic is undesirable. Specialists recommend using the method only in emergency situations.

Furosemide (Lasix) as a remedy for weight loss is ideal for strong health. Before applying "shock therapy" you should perform a complete examination of the body. This will help to avoid the negative consequences of rapid weight loss.

After a single dose of a diuretic, it is advisable to listen to the body. Since the drug affects all organs and systems, even a slight violation of the rhythm of the heart, problems with sleep and constant fatigue should serve as an excuse for refusing "diuretic" weight loss.

Working on losing weight with a diuretic, you need to exclude salt from the diet, otherwise dehydration may occur. In this case, the amount of water consumed per day (tea and juice does not count) should be 2-3 liters.

Since along with kilograms and volumes during the intake of a diuretic, valuable substances are excreted from the body, the vitamin complex should be used in parallel. So it will be possible to replenish supplies of calcium, potassium, etc.