| Obesity
Xenical vs Qsymia
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for obesity.Deep comparison between: Xenical vs Qsymia with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsQsymia has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Xenical based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Qsymia but not Xenical, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Xenical
Qsymia
At A Glance
Oral
Three times daily
Gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor
Oral
Once daily
Sympathomimetic amine anorectic combination
Indications
- Obesity
- Obesity
Dosing
Obesity One 120-mg capsule three times a day with each main meal containing fat (during or up to 1 hour after the meal); distribute daily fat, carbohydrate, and protein over three main meals.
Obesity Start 3.75 mg/23 mg orally once daily in the morning for 14 days, then increase to 7.5 mg/46 mg once daily; may escalate to 11.25 mg/69 mg then 15 mg/92 mg based on weight loss response; maximum dose 7.5 mg/46 mg in moderate or severe renal impairment or moderate hepatic impairment; avoid in severe hepatic impairment and end-stage renal disease on dialysis.
Contraindications
- Pregnancy
- Chronic malabsorption syndrome
- Cholestasis
- Known hypersensitivity to XENICAL or to any component of this product
- Pregnancy
- Glaucoma
- Hyperthyroidism
- Concomitant use or within 14 days of stopping a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)
- Known hypersensitivity to phentermine, topiramate, or any excipient in QSYMIA, or idiosyncrasy to sympathomimetic amines
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=5%) Oily spotting, flatus with discharge, fecal urgency, fatty/oily stool, oily evacuation, increased defecation, fecal incontinence
Postmarketing Hepatitis, hepatic failure, hypersensitivity reactions (pruritus, rash, urticaria, angioedema, bronchospasm, anaphylaxis), bullous eruption, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, acute oxalate nephropathy, pancreatitis, lower gastrointestinal bleeding
Most common (>=5%) Paraesthesia, dizziness, dysgeusia, insomnia, constipation, dry mouth
Serious Embryo-fetal toxicity, suicidal behavior and ideation, acute angle-closure glaucoma, mood and sleep disorders, cognitive impairment, metabolic acidosis, decreased renal function, seizure with abrupt withdrawal, kidney stones, oligohydrosis and hyperthermia, hypokalemia, DRESS/multiorgan hypersensitivity, serious skin reactions, anaphylaxis and angioedema
Postmarketing Suicidal ideation, suicidal behavior, acute angle closure glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure, urticaria, elevation of blood pressure, ischemic events, euphoria, psychosis, tremor, anaphylaxis, angioedema, bullous skin reactions (erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis), pancreatitis, hepatic failure, hyperammonemia with or without encephalopathy, maculopathy
Pharmacology
Orlistat is a reversible inhibitor of gastrointestinal lipases that forms a covalent bond with the active serine residue site of gastric and pancreatic lipases, preventing hydrolysis of dietary triglycerides into absorbable free fatty acids and monoglycerides, resulting in a caloric deficit that may have a positive effect on weight control.
Phentermine, a sympathomimetic amine, reduces appetite via hypothalamic catecholamine release; topiramate enhances satiety and suppresses appetite through GABA augmentation, voltage-gated ion channel modulation, AMPA/kainate glutamate receptor inhibition, and carbonic anhydrase inhibition, though the precise mechanism of action for weight reduction is not fully established for either component.
Enter your patient's insuranceCheck specific coverage details for your patient.
Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Xenical
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (9/12) · Step Therapy (4/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
Qsymia
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (6/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Xenical
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (4/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Qsymia
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (4/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Xenical
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Qsymia
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
No savings programs available for Xenical.
No savings programs available for Qsymia.
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XenicalView full Xenical profile
QsymiaView full Qsymia profile
Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.