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As the monkeypox outbreak continues to intensify, it's not just vaccines for the virus that are in short supply. There's just one drug currently available that can be used to treat monkeypox—TPOXX—and obtaining it has also proved challenging. TPOXX (short for tecovirimat), was originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat smallpox, which is an orthopoxvirus in the same family as monkeypox. The drug can also be prescribed to patients who have monkeypox or are at high risk of getting a severe case of the monkeypox virus. "It's shown some potential activity against monkeypox infections," says Adi Shah, an infectious disease specialist at Mayo Clinic, told Health. TPOXX is not available in pharmacies however. It can only be obtained through the country's Strategic National Stockpile or from state health and territorial departments. And while TPOXX may be effective in treating monkeypox, it isn't for everyone. Experts are still learning about the drug's effectiveness. Here's what you need to know about the antiviral drug TPOXX and its use in treating monkeypox. The Symptoms and Causes of Monkeypox, as Virus Cases Rise Globally

When I stepped on the scale at the clinic, it read 170. I was informed that my BMI was firmly in the overweight category for my height. I am 5'6, so a normal weight for someone my height, according to the BMI chart, can be anywhere between 118-148 pounds. The doctor talked to me briefly about healthy habits, and prescribed phentermine, a commonly prescribed amphetamine-like medication used to suppress appetite. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), phentermine is one of four FDA-approved weight-loss drugs intended for short-term use only—up to 12 weeks. Five other drugs, including one that's combined with phentermine, are approved for long-term use (plus a sixth drug that's only for those with specific genetic conditions).