Best Weight Loss Medications

Weight loss medication comes in two main forms, pills and injections. Most weight loss medications work by helping you feel less hungry, feel full faster or reduce cravings so you eat less food. Others work by blocking the body from absorbing some fat from food.

In either case, these medications work best when combined with healthier eating and regular movement; they’re tools to support lifestyle changes, not replacements for them.

Who qualifies for weight loss medications?

Most weight loss medications are prescribed to adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, which is the clinical threshold for obesity. You may also qualify with a BMI of 27 or higher if you have a weight-related health condition like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

Pills vs. injections

The main practical difference comes down to how often you take them and how effective they are. GLP-1 injections (like Wegovy and Zepbound) tend to produce significantly more weight loss than oral medications, but they’re considerably more expensive and require self-injecting (usually once a week).

Pills like phentermine or Qsymia are taken daily, cost less and produce more modest results. The right choice depends on your health history, how much weight you want to lose and what you’re comfortable with.

Prescription vs. over-the-counter

Almost all effective weight loss medications require a prescription. The one exception is orlistat, sold over the counter as Alli (a lower-dose version of the prescription drug Xenical). Any other weight loss product you can buy without a prescription — capsules, powders, teas — is classified as a supplement, not a medication, and is not FDA-approved for weight loss.

Did you know?

Weight loss medications aren’t recommended for those who are trying to get pregnant, are currently pregnant or breastfeeding.

Most weight loss medications reduce your appetite by making you feel less hungry or making you feel full faster after eating. This makes you want to eat less. One exception is the medication orlistat, which causes the intestines to absorb less fat.

The main weight loss medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) include the following.

GLP-1 medications

GLP-1 is a natural hormone your body already makes after eating food. Its job is to tell your body you’ve had enough to eat and help keep your blood sugar steady.

GLP-1 weight loss drugs copy this hormone. They make your brain and stomach act like you’ve eaten enough food, even when you’ve eaten less. Think of it like turning down your body’s “I’m hungry” volume knob.

Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic)

Semaglutide was first approved as a diabetes drug under the Ozempic brand. The Wegovy brand is only approved for weight loss.

• How it works: Mimics the GLP-1 hormone to reduce hunger and help you feel full longer
• Average weight loss: About 12% to 15% of body weight
• Common side effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache and fatigue
• Form: Weekly injection

» COMPARE: Wegovy vs. Ozempic

Tirzepatide (Zepbound)

Originally approved for Type 2 diabetes under the brand name Mounjaro, tirzepatide was renamed Zepbound as a weight loss drug.

• How it works: Targets both GLP-1 and GIP hormones to reduce appetite and food intake
• Average weight loss: Up to 21% of body weight at higher doses
• Common side effects: Nausea, diarrhea, hair loss and fatigue
• Form: Weekly injection

» COMPARE: Zepbound vs. Wegovy

Liraglutide (Saxenda)

Approved as a GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight loss, liraglutide is given as a daily weight loss injection.

• How it works: Mimics the GLP-1 hormone to help control appetite
• Average weight loss: About 5% to 10% of body weight
• Common side effects: Nausea, vomiting and stomach pain
• Form: Daily injection

GLP-1 pros and cons

GLP-1 medications can help people lose significant weight by reducing appetite and helping them feel full longer. However, they can be expensive and may cause side effects like nausea and diarrhea, and some people may wonder, “Is GLP-1 safe?” before starting treatment.

Appetite suppressants

These medications affect the brain and nervous system to help reduce hunger and control appetite.

Phentermine/topiramate (Qsymia)

One option that’s available is a combination of weight loss medication (phentermine) and anti-seizure medication (topiramate). Topiramate shouldn’t be used while pregnant because it can increase the chances of birth defects.

• How it works: Combines a stimulant that suppresses appetite with a medication that helps control cravings
• Average weight loss: Up to 11% of body weight after one year
• Common side effects: Dry mouth, constipation, insomnia and increased heart rate
• Form: Daily pill

Craving-control medications

These medications help reduce food cravings and emotional eating by affecting brain chemicals linked to reward and appetite.

Naltrexone/bupropion (Contrave)

One chemical combination for weight loss is a medication used for alcohol and opioid addiction (naltrexone) and a medication used to treat depression (bupropion).

• How it works: Helps reduce cravings and emotional eating by targeting hunger and reward signals in the brain
• Average weight loss: About 5% to 9% of body weight
• Common side effects: Nausea, headache, constipation and increased blood pressure
• Form: Daily pill

Fat-blocking medications

These medications work in the digestive system instead of the brain by reducing how much fat the body absorbs from food.

Orlistat (Xenical, Alli)

Medications like orlistat (Xenical, Alli) block the body from absorbing some fat from food. Alli is available over-the-counter (OTC). You need to be on a low-fat diet to take orlistat.

• How it works: Blocks the body from absorbing some dietary fat
• Average weight loss: About 3% to 5% of body weight
• Common side effects: Gas, oily stools, diarrhea and stomach discomfort
• Form: Daily pill (prescription and OTC versions available)

Weight loss medications are considered to be effective if you lose more than 5% of your weight after 12 weeks of being on the medication.

Wegovy was the leader when it was approved in 2021; FDA trial participants lost an average of 12.4% of body weight, with a separate New England Journal of Medicine study showing results closer to 15%. Zepbound is currently the most effective option on the market. Clinical trials showed participants losing an average of 21% of their body weight at the highest dose.

According to another report, Qsymia is actually the most cost-effective medication among semaglutide and other weight loss medications.

It’s worth noting that these are averages from clinical trials. Individual results vary based on starting weight, diet, activity level, and how long you stay on the medication.

How the major medications compare

» COMPARE: Tirzepatide vs. semaglutide for weight loss

Weight loss medication costs can vary widely depending on the type of medication, whether you have insurance coverage and which provider you use. In general, injectable GLP-1 weight loss injections cost significantly more than oral weight loss pills.

Brand-name GLP-1 medication costs

Without insurance, GLP-1 medications like Ozempic cost around $1,000 per month. When comparing Zepbound to Ozempic, Zepbound is slightly more expensive. Approximate prices as of publishing:

• Wegovy: $1,350 per month
• Zepbound: $1,060 per month
• Ozempic: $1,000 per month
• Saxenda: $1,350 per month

Because these medications are typically taken long-term, the yearly cost can add up quickly.

Weight loss pill costs

Oral weight loss medications are generally cheaper than injectable medications. For example, Qsymia costs around $134 per month without insurance, making it one of the more cost-effective prescription weight loss options.

» MORE: Are weight loss pills safe?

Compounded GLP-1 costs

Compounded GLP-1 medications are often advertised as lower-cost alternatives to brand-name drugs. These medications typically cost around $250 to $300 per month.

However, compounded medications are not FDA-approved. The FDA has also warned about safety concerns related to compounded GLP-1 drugs, including dosing errors and the use of different active ingredients than those found in approved medications.

Ongoing subscription costs

Many online weight loss programs charge additional monthly membership fees separate from the cost of medication.

These subscriptions may include:

• Video consultations
• Messaging with providers
• Nutrition coaching
• Exercise support
• Lab testing

Hidden costs to watch out for

Some consumers report unexpected costs with online weight loss programs, including dosage price increases, automatic subscription renewals and difficulty canceling memberships.

Michael in Virginia described a common pattern with MEDVi: “With all the other options available, $399 a month is very expensive. They sell you on the cheaper first month of $179, but then it changes.”

Other customers reported frustration with cancellation policies and additional membership charges. One Ro customer, Richard in Connecticut, told us: “I paid over $1,000 up front for the medication and later was billed a $149 membership fee. If I cancel, I won’t receive a refund.”

Before signing up, carefully review the provider’s pricing structure, cancellation policy and refund terms.

Did you know?

In late 2025 and early 2026, the major manufacturers (Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly) launched direct-to-consumer platforms to compete with compounding pharmacies. This means uninsured patients rarely pay $1,000+ anymore.

There’s no single best weight loss medication. Some people are perfectly comfortable self-injecting once a week. Others strongly prefer a daily pill. Both approaches are valid. It comes down to what you’ll actually stick with.

The right choice depends on your health history, budget, goals, and personal preferences. Here are the main factors to think through:

1. Your other medical conditions and medications: Some weight loss medications interact with existing conditions or drugs. If you’re allergic to semaglutide, for example, you can't take Ozempic, Wegovy or any compounded semaglutide. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, options like Qsymia are off the table due to birth defect risks.
2. How much you want to lose and how quickly: GLP-1 injectables like Zepbound and Wegovy produce the most significant weight loss in the shortest time. Oral medications are more modest in their results. If you have a large amount of weight to lose or a time-sensitive health goal, that may factor into which option your provider recommends.
3. Cost and insurance: Injectable GLP-1s are significantly more expensive than oral options. Check whether your insurance covers any weight loss medications (coverage varies widely), and factor in both medication costs and any platform fees if you’re going through a telehealth provider.

Switching medications is also an option

If a medication isn’t working well after three to six months — meaning you haven’t lost at least 5% of your body weight — the Mayo Clinic recommends talking to your provider about trying something different.

There are many ways to get weight loss medication online right now. The FDA approves the same generic drug name for treating different health conditions. But not all providers meet the same standards.

Always disclose your full medical history to your provider.

Reputable online medication programs will not prescribe weight loss medications like GLP-1s to just anyone. Expect to answer questions about your current medications, any relevant conditions, height and weight, and pregnancy status. If a website offers to prescribe GLP-1s without any medical intake process, that's a red flag.

Here are more tips to make sure you’re getting a safe, legitimate service.

• Look for a LegitScript certification badge in the footer of any online pharmacy or telehealth platform you’re considering. LegitScript is an independent verification service that confirms a platform is operating as a legitimate, compliant online pharmacy and not a rogue operation. If you can’t find it, check LegitScript’s directory directly at legitscript.com.
• Verify a pharmacy’s license through your state board of pharmacy. The prescribing clinician should also be licensed to practice medicine in your state (providers are legally required to hold a valid license in the state where you reside).
• Be cautious of providers that advertise unusually low prices, don’t require a consultation or ship from outside the United States. Counterfeit GLP-1 medications have been reported. Products obtained without a prescription offer no guarantee of safety or efficacy.

What to know about compounded medications

Some telehealth providers offer compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide as lower-cost alternatives to brand-name GLP-1 medications. These custom-made medications are produced by compounding pharmacies instead of the original manufacturer and are not FDA-approved.

The FDA has warned that some compounded GLP-1 medications may use different active ingredients, such as semaglutide salts. It has also reported hospitalizations linked to dosing errors.

If you choose compounded medication, make sure the pharmacy is licensed and accredited by a recognized organization such as the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB).

» LEARN: What’s the best weight loss injection?

Many medical providers can prescribe weight loss medications, but ideally, you work with a doctor who specializes in obesity medicine. Obesity medicine physicians have advanced training in managing weight loss safely, especially with the use of medications.

Besides qualifications, when searching for a weight loss medication provider, you’ll want to ask yourself these questions:

• Do they take my insurance?
• Do they have a monthly subscription along with a one-time initial fee?
• How do consultations work? Do they offer video sessions to meet with my provider initially for a workup?
• How will I communicate with my provider on an ongoing basis? Will I have weekly or monthly video sessions? Will I have to follow up with my regular care provider? Are they available to answer my questions and address my concerns?
• Are they available in my state? Health care providers need to be state-licensed to practice.
• How long will it take to schedule an initial appointment? How easy is it to get hold of my provider?
• Do they have other specialists, such as registered dietitians, to work with me to help with nutrition and lifestyle changes?