A Narrative Review: Phentermine and Topiramate for the Treatment of Pediatric Obesity

Anthony Kim; Jennifer Nguyen; Mahsa Babaei; Ahlee Kim; David H Geller; Alaina P Vidmar

doi:10.2147/AHMT.S383454

A Narrative Review: Phentermine and Topiramate for the Treatment of Pediatric Obesity

Adolesc Health Med Ther. 2023 Aug 23:14:125-140. doi: 10.2147/AHMT.S383454. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Anthony Kim¹, Jennifer Nguyen², Mahsa Babaei², Ahlee Kim^{1

2}, David H Geller^{1

2}, Alaina P Vidmar^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
² Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Department of Pediatrics, Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Abstract

The prevalence of pediatric obesity has increased exponentially over the past four decades. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released updated clinical practice guidelines highlighting the importance of identifying pediatric obesity as a chronic disease. The guidelines support consideration of concurrent treatment with intensive lifestyle interventions, obesity pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery. The dramatic rise in pediatric obesity has spurred interest in utilizing obesity pharmacotherapy to support sustained weight reduction in pediatric cohorts, in the hopes of preventing the emergence of later-appearing, significant co-morbidities. Despite the enormous demand, the obstacles posed by performance of needed clinical trials in the pediatric population markedly limits available pharmacotherapy for the treatment of obesity in pediatrics. Currently, there are five medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in youth with obesity. In 2022, the phentermine/topiramate (PHEN/TPM), once-daily, controlled-release, combination product received FDA approval, for the indication of chronic weight management, in youth with obesity, ages 12 years and older. The objectives of this narrative review are to: (1) Review the mechanism of action of phentermine and topiramate, (2) Summarize the safety and efficacy data of topiramate and phentermine use as both monotherapies and in combination, and (3) Discuss clinical practice guidelines and clinical implications, for the use of these agents in youths with obesity.

Keywords: obesity pharmacotherapy; pediatric obesity; phentermine; topiramate.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants 1) K23DK134801 NIH NIDDK, 2) Sacchi Foundation Research Scientist, 3) Supported by American Diabetes Association grant #11-22-ICTSN-32, 4) The Southern California Center for Latino Health Pilot Award 2022, 5) UL1TR001855 and UL1TR000130 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) of the US National Institutes of Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.