Counseling Points for Pharmacists with Patients on Weight-Loss Medications

Jennifer L. Costello, PharmD, BCPS, BC-ADM, ambulatory care clinical pharmacist at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, gives a few tips for pharmacists with patients on weight-loss medications, such as liraglutide and naltrexone/bupropion.

For patients who receive a once-daily subcutaneous injection of liraglutide, pharmacists can help educate patients with regard to dosage—which will gradually increase. It will take up to 5 weeks to be on the full dose of 3 milligrams once a day, Dr. Costello notes.

Pharmacists should remind patients taking naltrexone/bupropion that they should never separate the agents and take them individually. Pharmacists should also make sure that these patients are not on any other agents due to serotonin syndrome risks and other potential adverse drug interactions.