Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
I Have Been Advised To Consider Bariatric Surgery To Lose
Question: I have been advised to consider bariatric surgery to lose 35-40 kilos after years of attempts to lose weight. What I do not understand is why the first recommendation is not to use an appetite suppressant as people use medications for cholesterol and blood pressure. I was directed to a product called Contrave, composed of Naltrexone HCl and Bupropion HCl. Wouldn't it be preferable to use an appetite suppressant rather than surgery?
I have been advised to consider bariatric surgery to lose 35-40 kilos after years of attempts to lose weight. What I do not understand is why the first recommendation is not to use an appetite suppressant as people use medications for cholesterol and blood pressure. I was directed to a product called Contrave, composed of Naltrexone HCl and Bupropion HCl. Wouldn't it be preferable to use an appetite suppressant rather than surgery?
Brief Answer:
Any surgery should always be a last resort.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Thank you for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen your details,
Yes initially attempt should be made to lose weight by medications and surgery should be considered thereafter.
Some medications which really work in trials are-
High dose Betahistine 64mg twice to thrice(Side effect of this anti vertigo medicine at high dose is weight loss).
Metformin(Anti diabetic)-Dose as suggested by Doctor.
Along with them appetite suppressant would play wonders.
However these medications should always be used under direct guidance.
Regards!
Any surgery should always be a last resort.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Thank you for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen your details,
Yes initially attempt should be made to lose weight by medications and surgery should be considered thereafter.
Some medications which really work in trials are-
High dose Betahistine 64mg twice to thrice(Side effect of this anti vertigo medicine at high dose is weight loss).
Metformin(Anti diabetic)-Dose as suggested by Doctor.
Along with them appetite suppressant would play wonders.
However these medications should always be used under direct guidance.
Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Brief Answer:
Any surgery should always be a last resort.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Thank you for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen your details,
Yes initially attempt should be made to lose weight by medications and surgery should be considered thereafter.
Some medications which really work in trials are-
High dose Betahistine 64mg twice to thrice(Side effect of this anti vertigo medicine at high dose is weight loss).
Metformin(Anti diabetic)-Dose as suggested by Doctor.
Along with them appetite suppressant would play wonders.
However these medications should always be used under direct guidance.
Regards!
Any surgery should always be a last resort.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Thank you for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen your details,
Yes initially attempt should be made to lose weight by medications and surgery should be considered thereafter.
Some medications which really work in trials are-
High dose Betahistine 64mg twice to thrice(Side effect of this anti vertigo medicine at high dose is weight loss).
Metformin(Anti diabetic)-Dose as suggested by Doctor.
Along with them appetite suppressant would play wonders.
However these medications should always be used under direct guidance.
Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you very much Dr. XXXXXXX It seems that many people claim appetite suppressant medication doesn't work well long term. Including people who did the sleeve procedure. But I have heard that even the sleeve doesn't always work long term as the smaller stomach expands back even for people who are not compulsive eaters What do you think about the medication I mentioned?? I am not sure I understand which medication you are exactly recommending.
Thank you very much Dr. XXXXXXX It seems that many people claim appetite suppressant medication doesn't work well long term. Including people who did the sleeve procedure. But I have heard that even the sleeve doesn't always work long term as the smaller stomach expands back even for people who are not compulsive eaters What do you think about the medication I mentioned?? I am not sure I understand which medication you are exactly recommending.
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
I am sorry for the delayed reply.
As far as surgery is concerned the surgeon seems to be on the safer side...They would always get your consent signed which clearly mentions that no procedure is always successful...I won't say surgery doesn't work but it has complications plus the risk of failure.
The problem with appetite suppressors is that most of them can't be used for long term e.g Low dose of LDN (the combination you are talking) acts good on appetite suppression but again it blocks the same pathway by which feel-good hormones like Endorphins act; so again, side effects could be there in the long run...
However, when combined with proper diet and Exercise LDN should be given a try(definitely before going for surgeries).
Follow-ups are welcome.
Regards!
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
I am sorry for the delayed reply.
As far as surgery is concerned the surgeon seems to be on the safer side...They would always get your consent signed which clearly mentions that no procedure is always successful...I won't say surgery doesn't work but it has complications plus the risk of failure.
The problem with appetite suppressors is that most of them can't be used for long term e.g Low dose of LDN (the combination you are talking) acts good on appetite suppression but again it blocks the same pathway by which feel-good hormones like Endorphins act; so again, side effects could be there in the long run...
However, when combined with proper diet and Exercise LDN should be given a try(definitely before going for surgeries).
Follow-ups are welcome.
Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
I am sorry for the delayed reply.
As far as surgery is concerned the surgeon seems to be on the safer side...They would always get your consent signed which clearly mentions that no procedure is always successful...I won't say surgery doesn't work but it has complications plus the risk of failure.
The problem with appetite suppressors is that most of them can't be used for long term e.g Low dose of LDN (the combination you are talking) acts good on appetite suppression but again it blocks the same pathway by which feel-good hormones like Endorphins act; so again, side effects could be there in the long run...
However, when combined with proper diet and Exercise LDN should be given a try(definitely before going for surgeries).
Follow-ups are welcome.
Regards!
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
I am sorry for the delayed reply.
As far as surgery is concerned the surgeon seems to be on the safer side...They would always get your consent signed which clearly mentions that no procedure is always successful...I won't say surgery doesn't work but it has complications plus the risk of failure.
The problem with appetite suppressors is that most of them can't be used for long term e.g Low dose of LDN (the combination you are talking) acts good on appetite suppression but again it blocks the same pathway by which feel-good hormones like Endorphins act; so again, side effects could be there in the long run...
However, when combined with proper diet and Exercise LDN should be given a try(definitely before going for surgeries).
Follow-ups are welcome.
Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you for your reply. I am not familiar with the issue of "low dose naltrexone" and the issue of endorphins as a concern for long-term use for appetite suppression. As a layman I simply thought that instead of surgical intervention (with staples, stitches, other things in the body cavity, and all the many restrictions associated with bariatric surgery) a "pill" that would be equivalent to taking a "pill" for cholesterol or blood sugar problems.
So there is no such thing as a "pill" for long-term appetite suppression for weight loss rather than surgery? My feeling has been that when I don't have an appetite I don't eat, just like when I was ill with the COVID-19 when I didn't have much of an appetite for several weeks. So ideally the solution is simply to reduce appetite (hormones) and thereby lose weight.
So there is no such thing as a "pill" for long-term appetite suppression for weight loss rather than surgery? My feeling has been that when I don't have an appetite I don't eat, just like when I was ill with the COVID-19 when I didn't have much of an appetite for several weeks. So ideally the solution is simply to reduce appetite (hormones) and thereby lose weight.
Thank you for your reply. I am not familiar with the issue of "low dose naltrexone" and the issue of endorphins as a concern for long-term use for appetite suppression. As a layman I simply thought that instead of surgical intervention (with staples, stitches, other things in the body cavity, and all the many restrictions associated with bariatric surgery) a "pill" that would be equivalent to taking a "pill" for cholesterol or blood sugar problems.
So there is no such thing as a "pill" for long-term appetite suppression for weight loss rather than surgery? My feeling has been that when I don't have an appetite I don't eat, just like when I was ill with the COVID-19 when I didn't have much of an appetite for several weeks. So ideally the solution is simply to reduce appetite (hormones) and thereby lose weight.
So there is no such thing as a "pill" for long-term appetite suppression for weight loss rather than surgery? My feeling has been that when I don't have an appetite I don't eat, just like when I was ill with the COVID-19 when I didn't have much of an appetite for several weeks. So ideally the solution is simply to reduce appetite (hormones) and thereby lose weight.
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
As said by me in the very first reply conservative management is always the best and should always be tried.
Some other drugs for weight loss by appetite suppression are-
1)Metformin
2)Betahistine
But both of them should be taken strictly under supervision of Doctor.
Thanks!
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
As said by me in the very first reply conservative management is always the best and should always be tried.
Some other drugs for weight loss by appetite suppression are-
1)Metformin
2)Betahistine
But both of them should be taken strictly under supervision of Doctor.
Thanks!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
As said by me in the very first reply conservative management is always the best and should always be tried.
Some other drugs for weight loss by appetite suppression are-
1)Metformin
2)Betahistine
But both of them should be taken strictly under supervision of Doctor.
Thanks!
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
As said by me in the very first reply conservative management is always the best and should always be tried.
Some other drugs for weight loss by appetite suppression are-
1)Metformin
2)Betahistine
But both of them should be taken strictly under supervision of Doctor.
Thanks!
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
