How to Calculate Weight Loss Drug Comparison

What is Weight Loss Drug Comparison?

The Weight Loss Drug Comparison Calculator lets you compare the efficacy, cost, side effect profile, and dosing convenience of all major anti-obesity medications including semaglutide, tirzepatide, phentermine, orlistat, naltrexone-bupropion, and liraglutide. It uses clinical trial data to rank options by your priorities.

Formula

%BWL

Body Weight Loss (%) — Mean percentage of body weight lost in clinical trials

C

Monthly Cost ($/month) — Average monthly out-of-pocket cost

T

Tolerability Score (0-100) — Inverse of discontinuation rate due to adverse events in trials

R

Route of Administration (text) — Oral, subcutaneous injection, or other delivery method

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1Select which medications you want to compare (2-6 options)
2. 2Weight your priorities: efficacy, cost, tolerability, convenience, or cardiovascular benefit
3. 3View a side-by-side comparison table with clinical data for each metric
4. 4Get a ranked recommendation based on your weighted preferences

Worked Examples

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ✕Comparing short-term trial data (12 weeks for phentermine) with long-term data (68 weeks for semaglutide)
• ✕Not considering that some medications are FDA-approved for short-term use only (phentermine)
• ✕Ignoring contraindications — not all medications are safe for all patients (e.g., phentermine is contraindicated with uncontrolled hypertension)

Frequently Asked Questions