FDA-Approved Weight-Loss Medications in 2026: How Each Is Prescribed

As of October 2026, the FDA-approved prescription options for long-term weight management are Wegovy (injection and pill), Zepbound, Foundayo, Saxenda and generic liraglutide, Qsymia, Contrave, and prescription orlistat (Xenical). Imcivree is approved only for a few rare causes of obesity, phentermine is labeled for short-term use, and low-dose orlistat (Alli) is sold over the counter. Each one reaches you by a slightly different path, depending on its age limits, whether it is a controlled substance, and how specialized the prescriber needs to be.

The full list at a glance

The table below covers every product with an FDA weight-management indication as of October 19, 2026, plus short-term phentermine. "Typical prescriber" describes the usual route, not a legal requirement. Any licensed clinician with the right registration can prescribe within their scope of practice.

Source: current FDA labels for Wegovy, Zepbound, Foundayo, Saxenda, Qsymia, Contrave, Xenical, Alli, Imcivree, and Lomaira (phentermine), accessed October 2026.

GLP-1-based medicines

Wegovy injection and Wegovy tablets

The combined Wegovy label, revised in June 2026, covers both forms. The weekly injection is approved for weight reduction in adults and in children 12 and older with obesity. It also has a heart-risk indication and, in adults, an accelerated-approval indication for MASH with F2 to F3 liver fibrosis. The usual adult maintenance dose is 2.4 mg. If 2.4 mg is tolerated for at least 4 weeks, the label allows a step up to a 7.2 mg maximum (sold as Wegovy HD), according to the FDA label.

The pill was approved around December 22, 2025, per Novo Nordisk's SEC filing. It is adults-only, with a 25 mg daily maintenance dose. It comes with strict rules: take it on an empty stomach with up to 4 ounces of water, then wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other oral medicines.

Zepbound

Zepbound (tirzepatide) is approved for adults with obesity, or overweight plus a weight-related condition, and for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. Maintenance doses are 5, 10, or 15 mg weekly. It comes as single-dose pens, single-dose vials, multi-dose vials, and a four-dose KwikPen, per the August 2026 label. The form matters at the pharmacy, because some cash and Medicare programs cover only certain forms.

Foundayo

Foundayo (orforglipron) is a daily pill that Lilly says the FDA approved on April 1, 2026. It's for adults only. Unlike the Wegovy pill, the label says it can be taken with or without food. Doses run from 0.8 mg up to 17.2 mg, with at least 30 days at each step, so expect a new prescription or dose change roughly monthly at first.

Saxenda and generic liraglutide

Liraglutide is the one daily-injection GLP-1 for weight. The Saxenda label covers adults and children 12 and older who weigh more than 60 kg and have obesity. Dosing climbs by 0.6 mg each week to 3 mg. Teva announced the first generic version for weight management in August 2025. Some insurers want people to try a generic before they will cover a weekly brand.

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Non-GLP-1 medicines

Qsymia

Qsymia combines phentermine with extended-release topiramate. It is approved for adults and for children 12 and older with obesity. Because of its phentermine, it's a Schedule IV controlled substance. Because topiramate can harm a developing baby, it is sold under a REMS program in which "only certified pharmacies may distribute" it, per the March 2026 label. In practice, your prescription may be routed to a mail-order or specialty pharmacy rather than the store down the street.

Contrave

Contrave (naltrexone and bupropion) is approved for adults only. It carries a boxed warning about suicidal thoughts and behaviors because it contains bupropion, an antidepressant ingredient. The label also says it should be stopped and not restarted if a seizure occurs, and its naltrexone component is an opioid blocker. It is not a controlled substance. Expect a longer review of your mood history and other medicines than with a GLP-1.

Orlistat: Xenical and Alli

Prescription Xenical is one 120 mg capsule three times a day with each main meal that contains fat. It is indicated for people with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with other risk factors, per DailyMed. Alli is the 60 mg over-the-counter version for adults 18 and older, with a maximum of 3 capsules a day according to its Drug Facts label. Alli is the only product on this list you can buy without a prescription.

Imcivree (rare genetic and hypothalamic obesity)

Imcivree (setmelanotide) is not a general weight-loss drug. Its label, revised in April 2026, covers acquired hypothalamic obesity from age 4. It also covers Bardet-Biedl syndrome and confirmed POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR deficiency from age 2. The label says it is not indicated for general (polygenic) obesity. Getting it usually means genetic testing and a specialist.

Phentermine (short-term)

Phentermine is labeled as a "short-term (a few weeks)" add-on to diet and exercise. It's for people with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with risk factors such as controlled hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol. The label says it's not recommended at age 16 or younger, per the Lomaira phentermine label on DailyMed. It is Schedule IV.

What's not on the list

• Ozempic, Mounjaro, Rybelsus. These are type 2 diabetes products. The Ozempic label has no weight-management indication and tops out at 2 mg weekly. Using them for weight alone is off-label, and insurers commonly won't pay for that.
• Compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved products, even when they contain the same active ingredient.
• CagriSema. Novo Nordisk filed for FDA approval in December 2025. As of October 2026 it is still not approved, and Novo's September 2026 trial announcements still called it investigational, per Drugs.com's approval tracker.

How each one gets prescribed: four steps

1. Confirm you match a labeled indication. Most adult labels require obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related condition. Bring recent weight, height, blood pressure, and any lab results to the visit.
2. Pick a prescriber who can write it. GLP-1s, Contrave, and orlistat are not controlled, so a telehealth clinician licensed in your state can prescribe them after an evaluation. Qsymia and phentermine need a prescriber with a DEA registration. Telehealth prescribing of controlled substances without an in-person visit currently depends on a DEA and HHS flexibility rule extended through December 31, 2026, per the Federal Register notice.
3. Check coverage before the first fill. Many commercial plans require prior authorization for weight-management drugs, and some exclude them entirely. Your plan's formulary will show which apply. Medicare Part D enrollees who meet the program's BMI and health criteria can get Wegovy, Foundayo, or the Zepbound KwikPen for $50 a month through the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, which runs from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027. People with type 2 diabetes, moderate-to-severe sleep apnea, or fatty liver disease are excluded and go through their regular Part D plan instead, per Medicare.gov.
4. Know your checkpoint. Several labels define when to judge whether the drug is working (see the table below).

Label checkpoints: when the drug should be reassessed

Source: Saxenda label (rev. 02/2026), Qsymia label (rev. 03/2026), Contrave label (rev. 11/2025).

These checkpoints also show up in insurance reauthorizations, so plan follow-up visits around them. Wegovy, Zepbound, and Foundayo labels don't set a fixed percentage cutoff. Your plan may still ask for documented weight loss at renewal.

Self-pay prices, briefly

If insurance won't cover a GLP-1, manufacturers sell several of them directly. As of October 2026, Novo Nordisk's Wegovy price guide lists Wegovy pills at $149 to $299 a month and most Wegovy pen doses at $349. Lilly lists the Zepbound KwikPen or vials from $299 to $449, with the $449 price for higher doses tied to refilling within 45 days (Lilly), and Foundayo from $149 to $299 (LillyDirect). Novo's $199 introductory pen price, Lilly's savings cards, and Foundayo's reduced 2.5 mg and 5.5 mg prices all end December 31, 2026. Recheck before you budget for next year.

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Sources

1. Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets prescribing information, FDA (rev. 06/2026)
2. Zepbound (tirzepatide) prescribing information, Eli Lilly (rev. 08/2026)
3. Foundayo (orforglipron) prescribing information, Eli Lilly (rev. 07/2026)
4. Eli Lilly: FDA approves Foundayo (April 1, 2026)
5. Novo Nordisk Form 6-K: Wegovy pill approved in the US (December 22, 2025)
6. Saxenda (liraglutide) prescribing information, Novo Nordisk (rev. 02/2026)
7. Pharmacy Times: FDA approves generic liraglutide for weight loss (August 2025)
8. Qsymia prescribing information, FDA (rev. 03/2026)
9. Contrave prescribing information, FDA (rev. 11/2025)
10. Xenical (orlistat) label, DailyMed
11. Alli (orlistat 60 mg) Drug Facts, DailyMed
12. Imcivree (setmelanotide) label, DailyMed (rev. 04/2026)
13. Lomaira (phentermine hydrochloride) label, DailyMed
14. Ozempic (semaglutide) prescribing information, Novo Nordisk (rev. 05/2026)
15. Drugs.com: CagriSema FDA approval status
16. Federal Register 2025-24123: Fourth Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities (Dec. 31, 2025)
17. CMS: Medicare GLP-1 Bridge
18. Medicare.gov: Medicare GLP-1 Bridge
19. NovoCare: Wegovy Price Guide (April 2026)
20. Eli Lilly: Zepbound self-pay terms and conditions
21. LillyDirect: Foundayo pricing

Medical disclaimer: This article is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace a licensed clinician who knows your history. Approvals, labels, coverage and prices change; check the linked sources and talk with your prescriber or pharmacist before making decisions about any medication.