Weight Loss Medication

/ Medsana News / By

A number of prescription medications have been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia for the management of weight in adults. When used in combination with healthy eating, physical activity and behaviour modification, these medications can provide excellent results. The goals for drug therapy in overweight and obese people are long term weight reduction and an improvement in overall health. It is important to note that individual responses vary widely, and not every drug will be effective for every person. At Medsana Medical Clinic, we can offer medications for patients who meet the eligibility criteria (BMI >30, or BMI >27 with weight-related comorbidity).

Contrave™ (Bupropion and Naltrexone): Contrave combines 2 medications that together reduce hunger and control cravings to help you lose weight and keep it off: bupropion HCI and naltrexone HCI.  It works on the hypothalamus (hunger centre) and the mesolimbic circuit (cravings) areas of the brain.

Duromine™(Phentermine): Duromine is a mild stimulant and an appetite suppressant.  This means it reduces hunger.

Orlistat (Xenical™): Orlistat inhibits lipase in the gut. This reduces the absorption of fat by approximately 30%. The decreased absorption of calories eventually leads to weight loss.

Liragulatide (Saxenda™): Once daily injection.  Liragulatide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analogue, increases the postprandial insulin level in a glucose-dependent manner, reduces glucagon secretion, delays gastric emptying, and induces weight loss through reductions in appetite and energy intake.

The future… UNDER CONSTRUCTION

The Australian Obesity Management Algorithm: A simple tool to guide the management of obesity in primary care (29 August 2022).  This algorithm guides our medication management of our patients.

Make an Appointment

For patients who are eligible for pharmacological weight management therapies, a thorough a weight loss consultation with our doctors will help determine the best choice for you based on your personal preferences, comorbidities and possible adverse effects.

Call reception on 07 3852 4878 to book a bulk-billed weight management consultation. If booking online, book with Dr Linh Cheung or Dr Champak Chakraborty who have a special interest in weight management. 

This article was written by April Stevens BSc. MD student. 

Updated 05/12/2022 by Dr Linh Cheung

Timely PCR Swab Service

Available between 8:30am – 9am

 

  1. Short Telephone Consult with the patient – bulk billed if Medicare eligible. Private fees with no Medicare rebates apply if the patient has not seen us in the last 12 months.
  2. The doctor will request a respiratory panel for viruses and bacteria (where clinically appropriate).  For example, Influenza, Covid, RSV, mycoplasma, pertussis and so forth.  Not all possible infections are on this panel.  The doctor may decline the request if it is not appropriate and direct the patient accordingly.
  3. Normal fees will apply if more than swabbing is requested.  Clinical examination and other requests requires a normal consultation at another time.
  4. Patient arrives at the car park next to Building 10 before 11am.  Or takes the pathology request to another 4Cyte collection centre.
  5. Patient calls reception to notify of their arrival so the 4Cyte Pathology Collector can gown up and go the patient’s car to swab the patient.
  6. PCR swab gets sent to 4Cyte.  The processing times varies according to workflows.
  7. 4Cyte will SMS the patient with the Covid results.  Positive PCR test results for other respiratory viruses or bacteria are not named.  A negative PCR result doesn’t mean the patient is infection free.  These swabs narrow down the possibilities and guide appropriate treatments.
  8. An appropriate appointment needs to be made for results in person, via video or via phone.  Normal fees applies for these consult.  Normal fees applies if the doctor calls the patient for further clinical advice and management.  
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