A few years ago, when a new injectable drug—Byetta—showed promise helping type 2 diabetics control their blood sugar and lose weight, a funny thing happened: Non-diabetics began trying the drug (off-label) as a weight-loss solution.
This week, the press is trumpeting the weight-loss potential of another injectable diabetes drug, Symlin (pramlintide acetate). There’s nothing new about the drug’s ability to help diabetics manage their blood sugar and lose weight; past studies have already illustrated the potential.
But new research released this week at a European diabetes meeting put Symlin and weight loss back in the news. Two studies show the drug in combination with existing weight loss drugs or lifestyle programs helped non-diabetics lose weight. Unfortunately, the studies both have limitations (in the first study, a control group taking only Symlin lost just a few pounds more than a control group taking a placebo, and in the second, the added weight loss on Symlin was also relatively small).
Nonetheless, this new attention will no doubt make the drug attractive to non-diabetics.
Struggling with my own weight issues, I understand the quest for anything that can help. But here are three reasons why Byetta and Symlin make poor choices for non-diabetics:
- There are real consequences to taking a prescription drug for something other than what it was intended. Byetta and Symlin have well-established side effects and risks. (Byetta has been in the news lately, linked to deaths from pancreatitis.) But for diabetics, the risks of complications from not controlling their blood sugar can be greater.
- Both drugs are prohibitively expensive—around $250 for a 30-day supply. Insurance companies often balk at paying for Byetta for diabetics. I can’t imagine they would foot the bill for non-diabetics.
- Byetta and Symlin are not pills you pop. They’re injected under the skin. Is that really better than exercise and diet adherence, or even the approved weight loss drugs on the market?
Amylin Pharmaceuticals, which makes both drugs and funded one of the studies released this week, has actually looked at marketing Symlin as a weight-loss drug.
But until any of these drugs have been approved for that use, non-diabetics should probably look for another way to take off the pounds and leave the diabetes drugs to diabetics.
(PHOTO: TUDIABETES.COM)
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Comments (7)
Thanks for your info and suggested drugs which are approved. In any country it is estimated that 50 percent of the adult population is overweight and 25 percent of the adult population obese. This is because of consumption of unhealthy food, laziness, basic lack of physical activity and genetic disorders. One can get obese because of taking certain types of prescribed drugs for treating diseases. Your kind of drugs can save them from diseases.
i believe taking drugs to lose weight is the easy way out that can have adverse effects. taking drugs can cause diseases and can be unhealthy for the consumers. i believe people should lose weight the old fashion way, such as a healthy diet and exercise.
I think that people should not be so quick to judge – I have been on Symlin for almost a year now and I didn’t go on Symlin until with eating a healthy diet and exercising I still had trouble loosing weight and maintaining healthy blood sugar readings. What most people do not understand is that in diabetics the pancrease is gets so damanged that on top of not making insulin it also quits making amulin which is another hormone which helps the normal person feel full after eating and it also keeps the stomach from emptying so fast. Symlin is a synthetic form of amulin it helps you feel full quicker so you do not over eat and it helps you from being hungry so quick after eating. I tried the tradional methods and was quite honestly disgusted with myself – that was until I was prescribed symlin and was educated to fact that this was not my fault.
I’m a type two, 66 year old male, 6 ft and 240 lbs.
When I started Symlin – All was wonderful. The only side effect was a really nice smooth reduction in my weight. Then BAM! Nothing! All weight loss stopped
and I started to gain again. After about six months
the Symlim became an expensive waste of time and money.
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Just the facts, please. There are always variables. Not everyone can exercise the way they would like to or used to, due to medical issues, like getting warm when exercising that causes severe pain. I have peripheral neuropathy and pcos a double whammy. Any suggestions?
I just started Symlin and have had my first two injections. My concern is that the literature states you must have at least 250 calories in order to use it. My breakfast only consists of a small amount of oatmeal which is less than 200 calories. Do I just skip the injection in the mornings?