Weight-loss pills aren’t something to take lightly. The truth is that no tablet is going to magically make you skinny or lose weight — at least not any that are safe. Weight-loss pills are often prescribed by doctors and need to be taken under supervision. They can be dangerous, and if used haphazardly can end up causing some real, lasting damage to your body. The only proven, 100% effective way to lose weight is by sticking to a proper diet and exercising.

Weight-Loss Pills: 5 That Will Help You Start Losing Weight

With that said, weight-loss pills and other medications designed to help you lose weight can and will be effective, up to a point, if used correctly. Again — that typically means under supervision and in proper doses. But the market is flooded with all kinds of phony diet pills, making it a hard and dangerous endeavor to figure out which truly work.

A new analysis, from researchers at the University of California, San Diego, has identified five that have proven effective rod reducing users’ weight by at least 5%, meaning that yes, there are some out there that get the job done.

The study, published in the journal JAMA, found that for five specific medications, between 40% and 70% of users managed to lose at least 5% of their weight over the course of a year. That compares to those who were given a placebo, where similar losses were posted by only 23%. Now, this suggests these medications were limited in their ability to help people lose weight — 5% isn’t a huge number, though it may be within some people’s target range. Again, the healthiest option is to aim for diet and exercise changes.

Here are the five weight-loss pills and medications that the study covered, each found to be effective, at least part of the time, in helping people lose weight.

1. Orlistat

Orlistat is a drug that works by actively suppressing your body’s ability to absorb some of the food you eat. Basically, it keeps your body from storing additional food as fat stores, helping you lose weight. It’s meant to be taken as a part of a calorie-restricted diet. You can find Orlistat at pharmacies under the brand name alli and Xenical. It typically doesn’t require a prescription.

2. Lorcaserin

If you’ve taken or been steered toward a drug called Belviq, or previously Lorqess, you’ve been taking Lorcaserin. You may have seen the commercials for Belviq, which is a drug that can manipulate your diet and appetite by correcting chemical imbalances in your brain. It helps you feel full, sending signals that it’s time to stop eating. Lorcaserin can be habit forming, and requires a prescription from a doctor.

3. Naltrexone-bupropion

Sold under the brand name Contrave, Bupropion/naltrexone is a dual drug, mixing ibuprofen and naltrexone to help people lose weight. Again, it’s meant to be used in conjunction with a carefully planned diet and exercise regimen in order to see any real change. Some people have had a tough time seeing success with this drug, but the study mentioned previously has shown it can be effective.

4. Phentermine-topiramate

Phentermine-topiramate is sold as Qsymia in stores, and though it has been proven to be at least somewhat effective, users have reported some nasty side-effects. Qsymia works in a similar way to Belviq in that it does some chemical manipulation to help trigger your “fullness” sensors, reducing your appetite. You’ll need a prescription to get it, and unfortunately, a bottle can run you quite a bit of cash.

5. Liraglutide

Above, you can see a commercial for Victoza, which is the brand name for the drug Liraglutide. The drug itself isn’t actually targeted at people trying to lose weight, but rather, those trying to manage their diabetes. Weight loss just happens to go along with that. It’s important to note Liraglutide has been shown to cause cancerous tumors in mice and rats — and for that reason, experts warn it may lead to thyroid issues for humans.

But in terms of weight loss? It shows some promise under a doctor’s supervision.

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