Qnexa, a new diet pill, will be the first new diet pill in 13 years if it gets approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The drug was previously rejected by the FDA in 2010 due to concerns of safety. Qnexa manufacturers are now presenting additional material to argue their case.

Vivus, the company that developed Qnexa, used two drugs that were already approved to make the diet pill. Phentermine, a stimulant, and topiramate, an anticonvulsant, work together to suppress an individual's appetite.

Loopholes

While Qnexa may not have approval, many have been taking the drug already through a loophole. According to the New York Times, obesity doctors have been prescribing patients two different pills that together, are basically Qnexa.

Lynn Adams, lost 80 pounds by going to Dr. Thomas Najarian, Qnexa inventor. Dr. Najarian who opened up a weight loss clinic in central California in 2001, prescribed Adams the two drugs. Adams told the New York Times that for the year she took the drugs she lost 80 pounds. Currently she only takes the pills every once in a while and has gained back about half the weight back.

Risks

The FDA failed to approve the drug because of risk of birth defects, as well as cardiovascular problems. Some individuals that have been taking the drug through the off-label loophole reported memory loss when taking the two drugs together. Many also reported gaining weight back after going off the drugs.

Dr. Najarian's Weight-Loss Clinic

Dr. Najarian's Weight-Loss Clinic provided patients with the loop-hole drug, but they had to do more than just take the drug to lose weight. Patients exercised, had a low-calorie diet, as well as nutritional supplements. Najarian's Weight-Loss Clinic was bought by Dr. Borgadt in 2010, and is changing its name to TNC Weight Loss.

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