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QSYMIA

Posted by mocapnyc

Explainer Video Script

Hello, I’m Lou Aronne. I’ve spent the past 25 years conducting research on weight regulation and helping obese patients in my practice lose weight. Like you, I know the barriers that they face taking weight off and keeping it off. And like you, I know that obesity causes or contributes to many of the diseases that we treat every day.

I believe that Qsymia, along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, can help your obese patients achieve significant weight loss that can make a real difference in their lives.

Here, I’ll review the key points about prescribing Qsymia: how to identify the appropriate patients in your practice that Qsymia can help, and how to start those patients on treatment, counsel them, monitor them to ensure that they are healthy, and finally, assess their progress

Thirty years ago, about 1 out of every 6 adults in the US was obese.

As of 2008, obesity affected the health of one third of the adult US population.

By 2030, more than half of all American adults are expected to be obese.

Qsymia has arrived. So let’s get started.

It’s been a long wait, but now there’s a novel treatment that can help your patients achieve weight loss that matters.

Qsymia is a unique, extended-release, once-daily combination of two medications that you’re probably familiar with: phentermine, topiramate.

Phentermine releases immediately to reduce appetite, which decreases food consumption. Topiramate releases later, helping to suppress appetite and keep patients feeling full.

The recommended dose of Qsymia contains lower dosages of phentermine and topiramate than when they are used separately for other adult indications.

So now, with Qsymia, your patients have a treatment that lasts throughout the day.

So, who in your practice is an appropriate patient for Qsymia?

To assess that, first, calculate your patient’s body mass index, or BMI.

If your patient’s BMI is 30 or greater, obese, or 27 or greater, overweight, in the presence of at least 1 weight-related comorbidity such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, or dyslipidemia, Qsymia may be right for them.

You should NOT prescribe Qsymia to a female patient who is pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or unable or unwilling to comply with contraceptive guidance. A patient with glaucoma or hyperthyroidism should not be prescribed Qsymia either. Let them know they can’t use monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) while taking Qsymia, and can not have used them within 14 days of starting treatment. Now that I’ve described appropriate patients for Qsymia therapy, let’s take a look at how to get them started on treatment.

Make sure your patient has no known hypersensitivity or idiosyncrasy to sympathomimetic amines.

Now that I’ve described appropriate patients for Qsymia therapy, let’s take a look at how to get them started on treatment.

There are 4 dose strengths of Qsymia. When starting a patient on treatment, you’ll write 2 prescriptions. The first is to get them started: a 14 day supply of Qsymia 3.75 mg/23 mg. The second is for the recommended dose of 7.5 mg/46 mg. This prescription should be for a 30-day supply. Patients with moderate or severe renal impairment or moderate hepatic impairment should never exceed this dose. The 2 higher dose strengths of Qsymia, the titration dose of 11.25 mg/69 mg and the top dose of 15 mg/92 mg, may be used for patients who need a dose escalation after 12 weeks.

All doses should be taken once a day, in the morning, with food or without.

Qsymia is only available through certified home-delivery pharmacies, so Qsymia will be delivered right to your patients’ doors. More information about filling prescriptions is available on the prescription process card included in the back office kit or at Qsymia.com.

Be sure to give your patients a Qsymia Medication Guide and Starter Brochure to take home. And you must provide all of your female patients with the Risk of Birth Defects with Qsymia patient brochure. Before you send your patients on their way, schedule a follow-up visit within 2 to 8 weeks to see how they’re progressing. Remind your patients to sign up for the Q and Me online program at www.Qsymia.com to receive helpful support and resources. Patients will be on their way to achieving weight loss that can make a real difference.

There are some things you should talk about with your patients every time they come to see you. Avoiding pregnancy is a must while taking Qsymia. Counsel your female patients at every visit about the importance of consistently using contraception. You can use the Healthcare Provider Counseling Tool for Females with Reproductive Potential2 that’s been provided. And refer them to the Risk of Birth Defects with Qsymia patient brochure. Continue to counsel your patients to modify their lifestyle, eat properly, and engage in regular physical activity. If your patients look to you to provide advice on how they can improve their diet—suggest keeping a food diary, planning meals ahead and increasing physical activity, maybe taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

And remember, the Q and Me online program is always available to help your patients make positive lifestyle changes.

Remind your patients that their prescription is only meant for them and should not be shared with others. And as with all medications, make sure your patients know to tell you about any concerning symptoms they experience. Discussing these topics with your patients at each visit will help them make the most of their treatment with Qsymia.

Ongoing assessment is key to successful treatment with Qsymia. There are a few things you should monitor at each visit to ensure your patient’s health. It’s important to monitor your patients’ progress. Measure weight and BMI, and track how far along they’ve come. Have they achieved some of their goals?

Patients may require reductions in concomitant medications used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension while taking Qsymia. And make sure your female patients are using effective contraception, and test for pregnancy on a monthly basis if your patient is a female of reproductive potential. Check your patients’ heart rate. If they have a sustained elevation in heart rate while taking Qsymia, they should discontinue treatment.

Ask your patients if there has been an emergence or worsening of depression,suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Keep an eye out for important side effects like cognitive dysfunction, glaucoma, metabolic acidosis, or kidney stones. You should consider lowering your patients’ dose or discontinuing Qsymia if they experience important side effects. Monitoring your patients’ health and progress while taking Qsymia will help to ensure that they are on the right track to achieving significant weight loss.

You may be wondering, “How do I know if my patient needs a higher dose?” Ongoing assessment is key to successful treatment with Qsymia. Schedule an evaluation with your patients after 12 weeks on treatment to see how they are progressing on their current dose. If weight loss is less than 3% after 12 weeks on the recommended dose of 7.5 mg/46 mg, either discontinue Qsymia or escalate the dose. Escalating the dose is simple. Prescribe your patient 14 days of the titration dose of 11.25 mg/69 mg. Then they’ll be ready for the top dose of 15 mg/92 mg.

After escalating the dose to 15 mg/92 mg, if your patient’s weight loss is less than 5% after 12 weeks, discontinue treatment.

Have your patients discontinue Qsymia 15 mg/92 mg gradually by taking a dose every other day for at least 1 week prior to stopping altogether, due to the possibility of precipitating a seizure with abrupt cessation of the drug.

Assessing your patients’ progress and tailoring treatment accordingly will help them get the best results possible from treatment with Qsymia. Following these simple steps, may help your patients achieve significant weight loss that can make a real difference in their lives.

For more information about Qsymia, visit www.Qsymia.com and take the Qsymia Healthcare Provider Training Program

 

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