Weight Loss Medication Guide: Types, Costs and How They Work

America has a weight problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40% of adults in the United States are obese, with nearly 1 in 10 listed as severely obese. Obesity is about more than just carrying excess weight. Those with this chronic condition also have higher rates of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and certain cancers.¹

In recent years, weight loss medications have become popular as valuable tools to complement a healthy diet and regular exercise. Taken as a pill or an injection, weight loss medications may help amplify weight loss results and offer an alternative to weight loss programs or weight loss surgery.

What Are Weight Loss Medications?

Prescription weight loss medications are designed to help manage body weight by blocking fat absorption, curbing appetite or increasing feelings of fullness to reduce food consumption. For those looking for an alternative to surgically addressing unwanted pounds, weight loss medications can offer a non-invasive, surgery-free option to help reduce appetite, regulate cravings and control blood sugar levels, helping people to eat less and lose weight.

Common types of weight loss medications

Below are some common types of weight loss medications and a description of each type.

• Semaglutide (Wegovy^®, Ozempic^®). Semaglutide is a medication that mimics a natural hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) in the body to regulate appetite, increase insulin and slow down the digestion process.²
• Tirzepatide (Zepbound^®, Mounjaro^®). Tirzepatide is an injectable medication that helps with weight loss by reducing appetite and slowing the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine.³
• Liraglutide (Saxenda^®). Liraglutide is an injectable medication that helps control blood sugar levels, assisting in weight loss when combined with diet and exercise.⁴
• Phentermine (Adipex-P^®, Suprenza^®). Phentermine is a stimulant that can increase your heart rate and blood pressure while suppressing your appetite. It can be used short-term in conjunction with diet and exercise to support weight loss.⁵
• Phentermine and topiramate (Qsymia^®). Phentermine plus topiramate is a combination medicine taken orally that is used to treat obesity along with diet and exercise in those 12 years or older.⁶
• Naltrexone and bupropion (Contrave^®). Contrave is a combination drug used to help with weight loss. Naltrexone can help curb cravings and overall hunger, while bupropion is an antidepressant that may also curb appetite.⁷
• Setmelanotide (Imcivree^®). Setmelanotide is an injectable medication designed to help regulate appetite and aid weight loss for those with certain genetic conditions.⁸
• Orlistat (Xenical^®, Alli^®). Orlistat is an oral medication usually taken three times a day that blocks the absorption of dietary fat in the intestine, helping with weight loss when paired with a low-fat diet.⁹
• Hydrogel (Plenity^®). Plenity is an orally ingested hydrogel capsule that expands in the stomach, creating a feeling of fullness that can help reduce calorie intake.¹⁰

Sometimes, there are multiple well-known brand names of weight loss drugs that rely on the same active ingredient, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, which both contain semaglutide. Although they share their central ingredient, each medication may have different FDA-approved uses, dosing, side effects and costs.

How Much Does Weight Loss Medication Cost?

The national average cost* of weight loss medications can vary between $55 per bottle for Alli and $3,670 per 10 milligrams of Imcivree. The exact cost will vary based on the brand, treatment dosage and duration, pharmacy pricing and any manufacturer discounts or patient assistance programs.¹¹

Average cost of weight loss medication by type/brand

Here is the breakdown of costs for the most common weight loss medications:¹¹

Average cost of semaglutide by state/district

The average cost* of the weight loss medication Wegovy is $1,403 per month, while the average cost* of Ozempic is $1,002 per month. Below is the average cost* of semaglitude for all 50 states and the District of Columbia:¹¹

Does Insurance Cover Weight Loss Medications?

Coverage of weight loss medications by health insurance providers varies greatly. Medical insurance usually only covers procedures and medications that are deemed medically necessary for a specific condition. Your eligibility for a specific weight loss medication can significantly affect whether your insurance will cover it.¹²

If you want to take Ozempic for weight loss but don’t have type 2 diabetes, you may need to explore other weight-loss medications that qualify for insurance coverage.¹² If you're only looking to shed a few pounds and don’t meet the criteria for obesity or an obesity-related health condition, insurance may not cover weight loss medications at all. Check with your insurance provider and your doctor to see what options are available to you.

How Weight Loss Medications Work

Depending on the type you use, weight loss medications work in the body in three main ways:¹³

• Decrease hunger and craving
• Increase satiety or feelings of fullness
• Decrease your body’s ability to absorb fat from food

While weight loss medications may help you lose more weight than diet and exercise alone, their use should be combined with healthy eating habits and regular physical movement for the best results.¹³

Who Can Prescribe Weight Loss Medications?

Weight loss medications like Mounjaro and Ozempic are prescription medications and, therefore, not available over the counter. To get a prescription, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with a licensed healthcare provider who can follow up with you to check on dosage, side effects, drug interactions and results.¹⁴

While some providers offer telehealth consultations, you should be wary of websites or social media ads that offer quick access to low-cost weight loss medications that may not be offering legitimate products or adequate follow-up.

Are Weight Loss Medications Safe?

A variety of medications have been approved by the FDA as safe for aiding weight loss. But do weight loss medications actually work? While results from weight loss medications won’t happen overnight, when paired with a healthy diet and regular exercise, many people can see a total weight loss of 3% to 12% with some medications.¹⁵ Others average a loss of 10% to 20% of their total body weight.¹⁶

Potential side effects of weight loss medications

Although there are many FDA-approved weight loss medication options, there are still potential side effects to consider. The type and severity of any side effects will vary based on the specific medication used, your dosage and your body’s reaction.

Gastrointestinal issues are the most common side effect of most weight loss medications. Others may include:¹⁷

• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Heartburn
• Insomnia
• Nausea and/or vomiting

Some weight loss medications may pose additional health concerns to consider. A 2023 study found that some GLP-1 weight loss medications like semaglutide and liraglutide were connected to an increased likelihood of developing conditions like pancreatitis, bowel obstruction and gastroparesis, where the stomach muscles don’t function properly.¹⁸

Talk with your doctor to weigh the benefits and potential side effects of the various weight loss medication options.

Alternatives to Weight Loss Medications

If you are looking to lose weight but weight loss medications aren’t an option due to cost, side effects, health conditions or other factors, there are alternatives outside of diet and exercise to consider:

• Weight loss surgery like gastric sleeve, Lap-Band^® and gastric bypass
• Weight loss programs like Nutrisystem^®, Noom™ and WW^®
• Liposuction
• Non-invasive fat removal treatments like fat freezing, radiofrequency treatments and laser fat removal

The Bottom Line

While not a one-size-fits-all solution, weight loss medications can be a powerful tool for those dealing with obesity. When combined with healthy lifestyle changes and personalized care, weight loss medications may be able to help you shed pounds and regain your health, mobility and vitality.

Managing Health and Wellness Costs With the CareCredit Credit Card

If you are looking for an option to help manage your health and wellness costs, consider financing with the CareCredit credit card. The CareCredit credit card can help you pay for the care you want and need and make payments easy to manage.** Use our Acceptance Locator to find a provider near you that accepts CareCredit. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

Your CareCredit credit card can be used in so many ways within the CareCredit network including vision, dentistry, cosmetic, pet care, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, and spa treatments. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Kate Bayless is a health and wellness freelance writer with 15 years of experience. Her work has appeared in Parents, Women's Health, Beachbody and OpenFit.