It's normal to feel hungry. It's your body's way of telling you it's time to fuel up. But if you find yourself craving food even though you just ate, there's a good chance you'll gain weight. Can appetite suppressants help?
Maybe. But before you consider trying them, take some time to learn what they are and how they work. Talk to your doctor, too.
What Is an Appetite Suppressant?
An appetite suppressant is a weight loss drug that works by making you feel less hungry or making you feel fuller when you eat. These drugs are approved by the FDA for people with obesity and for people who are overweight and have certain medical conditions.
Some supplements are sold as appetite suppressants, but they haven't been reviewed or approved by the FDA.
Long-Term Prescription Appetite Suppressants
The FDA has approved several appetite-suppressing medications you can take for a long time to manage your weight. They all are meant to be used with a reduced-calorie diet and raised physical activity. You can only get them with a doctor's prescription:
Semaglutide (Wegovy). This comes as an injection you give yourself once a week. You inject it in your stomach area, upper leg, or upper arm. It works by mimicking a hormone naturally made in your gut. The hormone helps control hunger signals in your brain and can slow down the rate at which food leaves your stomach, so you feel fuller longer. Semiglutide is also the active ingredient in Ozempic, for type 2 diabetes.
Tirzepatide (Zepbound). This is another weekly injection used in the same way as semaglutide. It mimics the same hormone as that drug, along with a second hormone involved in appetite. It has the same active ingredient as the diabetes drug Mounjaro.
Liraglutide (Saxenda). You take this as a daily injection, which you give yourself in the same way as other weight loss drugs. It is also sold for diabetes treatment as a generic drug and under the brand name Victoza. The drug dampens hunger by acting on the same hormone in your gut as semaglutide.
Naltrexone/bupropion (Contrave). This is a pill. It contains two medications and may affect the reward system in your brain, so eating certain foods that would normally make you feel good no longer do. It also works on the hypothalamus, the part of your brain that regulates appetite, temperature, and other functions.
Phentermine/topiramate (Qsymia). This is another pill that combines two drugs. Phentermine is a stimulant that makes you feel less hungry. Topiramate is a medicine used for seizures and headache, but as part of a combo with phentermine may make you feel less hungry and more full.
Setmelanotide (Imcivree). This is a daily injection approved only for people with obesity caused by rare genetic conditions. These are conditions which often cause severe obesity at a young age. The conditions can be confirmed only through genetic testing. The drug leads people to eat less by affecting parts of the brain involved in appetite and fullness.
Is orlistat an appetite suppressant?
You may have heard of another drug the FDA has approved to treat obesity called orlistat, but it's not an appetite suppressant. It works by preventing your body from absorbing a portion of fat from the food you eat. The brand name of the prescription-strength version is Xenical. It's also sold as an over-the-counter drug, Alli.
Short-Term Prescription Appetite Suppressants
There are some other options that can be used for appetite suppression and weight loss but are approved only for up to 12 weeks.
These include several stimulant drugs, taken as pills:
- Benzphetamine (Regimex)
- Diethylpropion (Tenuate and Tenuate Dospan)
- Phendimetrazine (Prelu-2)
- Phentermine (Adipex-P, Atti-Plex P and Pro-Fast) — one of the most-prescribed options
These drugs are all controlled substances, which means they can be addictive if you use them in ways other than prescribed for you. State laws may limit how long you can take some of them. But because some research has now shown that long-term use can be safe, some doctors will prescribe phentermine for more than 12 weeks.
Appetite Suppressant Supplements
Some supplements claim to be appetite suppressants. These products, though, aren't classified as drugs by the FDA, so they're not reviewed by the agency before they hit the market. No over-the-counter appetite-suppressing drugs have been approved by the FDA.
Despite no clear evidence that any of them are effective or safe for weight loss, supplements that claim to reduce appetite may include ingredients such as:
Green tea extracts. Green tea contains substances called catechins that might have some effect on appetite and fat burning. It also has caffeine, a stimulant, which can affect appetite. Studies suggest that if green tea has any effect on weight loss, it's small. And while drinking green tea is quite safe, it's not clear that taking concentrated extracts in pills is safe.
Other caffeine sources. These include yerba mate, guarana, kola nuts, and other herbs that might help suppress appetite or have other effects on weight. But studies looking at caffeine for weight loss have been small and inconclusive. Some evidence suggests coffee drinkers might have an easier time maintaining their weight. The big concern with caffeine is getting too much from various sources in any day, risking sleeplessness and agitation.
Bitter orange. This herb is a stimulant used in many supplements as a substitute for a banned ingredient, ephedra, which was linked with dangerous rises in heart rate and blood pressure. Studies disagree on whether bitter orange can have similar effects.
Capsaicin. This is the spice that makes chili peppers hot. It's sold as a weight loss supplement that promises to reduce appetite, burn fat, and have other effects. Some research suggests that it might reduce appetite mainly by causing stomach pain, nausea, and bloating. In amounts normally used in cooking, it's otherwise safe.
In addition to being unproven, weight loss supplements can be expensive. Some may interfere with drugs you take or harm you in other ways. So if you are thinking of using a dietary supplement to lose weight, talk to your doctor. It's especially important to be cautious if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, or other medical conditions.
How Do Appetite Suppressants Work?
Different drugs work in different ways. But several newer drugs for weight loss, including Wegovy, Zepbound, and Saxenda, share one key trait: they mimic the effects of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This is a hormone made by your intestines. When taken as a drug, substances called GLP-1 agonists make your body react as if you are getting bigger-than-usual doses of this hormone. That triggers several effects:
- Lowering blood sugar
- Keeping food in your stomach longer
- Sending signals from your brain that you are full and not hungry
One of these drugs, Zepbound, mimics a second hormone, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, that has additional effects on appetite.
Older appetite-suppressing drugs work in different ways. Contrave, for example, reduces cravings by affecting reward centers in your brain. Stimulant drugs, like phentermine, work on the brain to reduce appetite and likely affect weight in other ways, such as making you burn calories faster.
Do Appetite Suppressants Work?
Yes, but maybe not as much as you hope. Studies show long-term prescription weight loss drugs, which are mostly appetite suppressants, help people lose 3%-12% of their body weight over the course of a year. That's more than most people achieve with lifestyle changes alone. If you're able to lose 5%-10% of your weight and keep it off, that's enough to improve your health — even if it doesn't make you thin.
But keep in mind that results can vary by medication and by person.
It's also important to understand that these drugs don't work on their own. Studies show that weight loss medication, including appetite suppressants, work best when you're also making healthy changes to your eating and exercise habits at the same time.
Who Can Use Appetite Suppressants?
Appetite suppressants are usually approved for use by adults based partly on their body mass index (BMI), a measure of their weight in relation to their height. Your doctor might recommend one if you have:
- A BMI of 30 or more (obesity)
- A BMI of at least 27 (overweight) and a weight-related health problem such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes
Some appetite suppressants also are approved for children and teens.
You might find a doctor who will prescribe an appetite suppressant for you even if you don't fit into the recommended groups. That's considered "off-label" use of the drug, meaning you can't have the same confidence that it's safe and effective for you. But off-label prescriptions for newer weight loss drugs have become so common they've contributed to shortages of the drugs.
Weight loss medication isn't for everyone. When you talk to your doctor, consider your health history and goals, as well as all the medications you take and how willing you are to put up with side effects. They might encourage you to try other things, including making changes to your diet, exercise, and sleep habits.
Some people, including those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, should not take these drugs.
Are Appetite Suppressants Safe?
Appetite-suppressing drugs that have gone through the FDA approval process are generally safe, when used as directed.
But they do have risks. For short-term medicines that rely on stimulants to reduce appetite, one risk is misuse or overuse. If you have a substance abuse disorder or a family history of substance abuse, tell you doctor before you try these pills.
For newer GLP-1 agonists, the risks can include having food stay in your stomach so long that it causes serious digestive problems. Scientists need more time to know if there are long-term risks.
Appetite suppressant side effects
Like any medication, appetite suppressants sometimes cause side effects. Each type of medicine has different side effects.
With long-term medicines, the side effects might include:
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Headache
- Tiredness
With short-term stimulant medications, side effects can include:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Irregular heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
If you do decide to try an appetite suppressant, tell your doctor if you have any side effects from it.
Appetite-Suppressing Foods
Weight loss drugs aren't the only way to curb your appetite. What you eat matters, too, whether you are taking medications or not.
As a general rule, foods that provide protein or fiber will keep you fullest longest. Eating fruits, veggies, and whole grains, along with lean proteins, is a winning strategy for health and weight management.
Consider trying:
- Chicken and turkey
- Fish
- Beans
- Whole grain cereals and breads
- Bananas
- Nuts
- Yogurt
- Popcorn
Drinking more water also can help fill you up. Warm drinks, like tea and coffee, can help too and are calorie-free if you don't add cream or sweeteners.
If you are taking a weight loss drug, talk to your doctor before you make any big changes in your diet.
Takeaways
If you have obesity or weight-related health problems, drugs that can suppress your appetite might help you lose some weight. These are prescription drugs. No supplement or over-the-counter medicine has the same proven appetite supressing effects. But the medicines aren't right for everyone and work well only when combined with changes in eating and exercise habits. Choosing whether to take a medication and which medication to take can be a complex process. So talk to your doctor about your options.
Appetite Suppressant FAQs
What's the best thing to suppress your appetite?
There's no one answer. For some people, a weight loss drug that curbs appetite is part of the answer. So is eating filling foods with fiber and protein. And there are other strategies, including finding the best eating times for you and getting enough sleep.
What is the best over-the-counter appetite suppressant?
There's no over-the-counter appetite suppressant that been proven safe and effective. And some supplements sold as appetite suppressants may do more harm than good.
How can I suppress appetite fast?
If you are truly hungry, you should eat something. But consider whether what you're feeling is really thirst. In that case, a drink of water will do. If what you're feeling is a craving — wanting to eat some specific food when you aren't even hungry — try distraction, like a brisk walk outside.
Do appetite-suppressing pills make you sleepy?
Appetite suppressant pills that contain stimulants often have the opposite effect: they can keep you awake. But pills that combine the stimulant phentermine with the seizure and migraine drug topiramate can make some people sleepy.
Is Ozempic an appetite suppressant?
Yes, Ozempic, which is approved for treating diabetes, has the same active ingredient as Wegovy, sold for weight loss. Both are appetite suppressants and both can lead to weight loss.
