There are so many people out there trying to lose weight. I’m one of them. So whenever a new weight-loss drug is mentioned, my ears perk up. Of course, sensible eating and exercise is the best way to be healthy and lose weight, but the prospect of one little pill a day helping me shed pounds is enticing. But, those little pills often come with big risks (hello! Fen-Phen!). Here are the risks and benefits of the three new weight-loss drugs currently being, or soon-to-be, reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration.

Qnexa- This drug from Vivus Inc. is the first up for review by the FDA, but it’s been a bumpy road. A combination of Phentermine (an appetite-suppressing stimulant) and Topiramate (commonly prescribed to epilepsy patients to control convulsions), this drug has, so far, proven successful in helping people shed weight. In clinical trials, 60 to 70 percent of people who took Qnexa lost five percent of their body weight. When taken in large doses, it can help people lose ten percent of their body weight. However, you’ll notice it’s made up of one half of the deadly Fen-Phen drug, albeit the apparently non-lethal half. Still, Qnexa has caused small heart palpitations and increased heart rate in clinical trials.

Lorcaserin- Up for review on September 16, Lorcaserin works by stimulating serotonin receptors in the brain. It is similar to Pondimin and Redux. In clinical trials 50 percent of people taking the drug lost 5 percent of their body weight after one year. The drug, manufactured by Arena Pharmaceuticals in California, did not seem to cause an increase in heart valve problems and is perceived more favorably than Qnexa. However, side-effects such as nausea, headaches and dizziness were reported.

Contrave- Like Qnexa, Contrave combines two drugs (naltrexone and bupropion) to achieve weight-loss. Both of the drugs in Contrave as used to fight addiction. This drug will not be reviewed by the FDA until January 2011. In clinical trials, people taking the drug lost between 9 and 15 percent of their body weight and side effects were similar to those experienced with Lorcaserin. Contrave is manufactured by Orexigen Theraputics.