title: New centrally acting agents for appetite control: from biological mechanisms to clinical efficacy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is one of the major problems of health policy in different countries. Pharmacological attempts have been made to help affected people without a definitive solution. Some agents--either with peripheral or central effect--are available in the market. On July 2012, the FDA approved two novel preparations for obese patients: (1) topiramate-phentermine--the first one an anticonvulsant and the second one a sympathomimetic amine--and (2) lorcaserin, a 5-HT2CR agonist. Both preparations emerged as new options for weight management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on the complex biology of eating behavior, in this review we discuss the features, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, advantages and possible disadvantages of these new agents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With differences in efficacy (higher for the topiramate-phentermine combination), both preparations are active in reducing appetite and body weight, as well as in improving comorbidities. Additional information will be collected from Phase IV surveillance. Focus on cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric (for both introductions) and embrio-fetal safety (especially for topiramate) is expected.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Enrique Tornú, Department of Pharmacology, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires , Argentina.
authors.forename: Natalia Paola
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Catoira
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Viale
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Girolamo
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D001067:Appetite Depressants; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants
keywords: Appetite control; Lorcaserin; Obesity; Pharmacological treatment; Topiramate; phentermine