Medicines for weight management: what you should know
Thinking about weight-loss injections or tablets? Who they may suit, why medical supervision matters, and how we assess you.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Ajay V. Kaduskar · Last reviewed 24 October 2026
Part of Obesity and weight management
- Compliance note for editors: no brand or molecule names, no doses, no prices, no "before and after", no promise of a specific weight loss.
Newer medicines, including weekly injections, have changed obesity treatment and are widely discussed in the news and on social media. They can help some people lose a meaningful amount of weight and improve sugar, blood pressure and other health markers. They are also prescription medicines with side effects, costs and limits, and they work best as part of a full plan.
At Niramay Clinics, these medicines are considered only after a medical assessment, and only for people for whom the expected benefit outweighs the risk.
Who may be considered
Medicines for weight management are generally considered for adults whose body weight is in the obesity range, or who are overweight and have weight-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver or sleep apnoea, and for whom diet and activity changes alone have not been enough. Final eligibility follows current Indian guidelines and the approved use of each medicine.
Who should not take them, or needs extra care
- Pregnancy, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding
- A personal or family history of certain thyroid cancers or endocrine tumours (applies to some medicines)
- Past pancreatitis or gallbladder disease
- Eating disorders
- Under 18, except in specific situations under specialist care
- People taking insulin or certain diabetes tablets, who need dose changes to avoid low sugar
What supervision at the clinic involves
- Assessment of weight, waist, body composition, sugar, kidney and liver function before starting
- Choice of medicine based on your health, other conditions and budget
- Gradual dose increases to reduce side effects
- Nutrition guidance to keep enough protein and protect muscle, with regular body composition checks
- Monitoring for side effects and adjustment of other medicines
- A plan for what happens after stopping
Common side effects to know about
Nausea, reduced appetite, fullness, vomiting, constipation or loose stools, especially in the first weeks and after dose increases. Less commonly, gallbladder problems or pancreatitis. Seek urgent care for severe, persistent stomach pain, repeated vomiting, or signs of dehydration.
A warning about fake and unsupervised use
Counterfeit and unregulated "weight-loss injections" are being sold online and through informal channels. They can be ineffective or dangerous. Take these medicines only on a doctor's prescription, buy them only from a licensed pharmacy, and never share pens.
Frequently asked questions
Many people regain some weight after stopping, because appetite returns. This is why a long-term plan for food, activity and muscle strength matters, and why stopping should be planned with your doctor.
Some of the weight lost on any treatment can be muscle, which is not desirable. Adequate protein, strength exercise and body composition monitoring help limit this.
It depends on the person, the medicine and the goal. Your doctor will explain the options that suit you.
No. These are prescription medicines that need a medical assessment, monitoring and adjustment of other medicines.
Sources and further reading
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Call 0712 2422214 or +91 84591 41584, message us on WhatsApp, or use the appointment form. Please bring your previous reports and a list of the medicines you take.