Prescription Weight Loss Pills
Weight Loss Pills prescribed by doctors are not meant for people who want to shed just a few pounds to look attractive. These medications are usually intended for those obese people who find it difficult to lose weight through exercise and diet or for those overweight people who have some health problems.
Doctors may consider weight-loss drugs for you if your body mass index (BMI) is greater than 30 (even if there are no contraindications). On the other hand, if your BMI is greater than 27 but you have some medical problems related to obesity, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, then the doctors may be forced to consider prescribing some weight loss drug for you.
Why the doctors are so careful about prescribing weight loss pills even when their use is approved by the authorities such as the FDA (Food & Drug Administration)? It is because, there are serious side effects associated with these prescription weight loss pills.
You should also consider the fact that weight-loss drugs don’t replace the need for changes in food habits or level of activities. Therefore, although these drugs may seem to be capable of fulfilling a dieter’s dream, they are not always appropriate for every obese person.
So, please remember that the best way to lose weight is to exercise regularly while taking a healthy diet. Some supplement may also be helpful. But if you’re among those who struggle to lose weight and who have weight-related medical problems, then and only then you may use an appropriate prescription weight-loss drug. But there are adverse effects of these drugs.
The majority of prescription weight-loss drugs approved by the FDA are permitted for short-term use — usually less than 12 weeks. Only orlistat and sibutramine have been permitted for long-term use. Orlistat and Sibutramine work in two different ways. There side effects are also dissimilar. Sibutramine works on your brain to make you feel full and orlistat blocks absorption of fat in your stomach and intestines. Regarding the possible side effects, please refer to the following table showing adverse side effects of some commonly used prescription weight-loss drugs.
| Drug | Possible side effects |
|---|---|
| Orlistat | Intestinal cramps, gas, oily spotting |
| Sibutramine | Increased blood pressure and heart rate |
| Diethylpropion | Increased heart rate and blood pressure, dizziness and insomnia |
| Phentermine | Increased heart rate and blood pressure, dizziness and insomnia |
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2010
Safety of Drugs Prescribed for Losing Weight
Your doctor is supposed to consider your health history, potential interaction with other medications you’re taking and the possible side effects of the weight-loss drug before selecting a particular drug for you. One more factor must also be considered. The weight loss drugs approved for long-term use might not have been around that long. So, long-term side effects that initial studies didn’t uncover, might have remained unknown. In 2009 it was announced by the FDA that a safety review of sibutramine would be conducted. Sibutramine has been in the market since 1997, but the concerns about increased risk of heart attack and stroke in some people with a history of heart disease was never confirmed. After reviewing the data as per FDA’s announcement, it was found that sibutramine should not to be prescribed for people with heart problems, such as:
- History of angina or heart attack
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- History of stroke or transient ischemic attack
- History of congestive heart failure
- History of heart arrhythmias
- History of peripheral arterial disease
In the same manner, the FDA is also reviewing the use of orlistat because there are reports of serious adverse effects of orlistat on the liver. However, definite connection has not been documented till now about orlistat’s ill effect on the liver. Still, the people taking orlistat have been advised to remain alert about signs and symptoms of liver damage, like fatigue or weakness, jaundice, fever, or brown urine.
Do the Prescription Drugs for Weight Loss Really Work?
Two most common weight loss drugs usually prescribed are Xenical and Meridia. Both these are reasonably effective, resulting in loss of 5 to 22 pounds over a one-year period on an average. However, the responses vary greatly from person to person. Some people lose more weight compared to others. Interestingly, there is no single correct dose for these drugs. Only a doctor can decide what works best for you based on his or her assessment of your health conditions and your response to treatment. Patients normally lose maximum weight within the first six months of starting the drug.
Although weight loss from prescription drugs may reduce a number of health risks in obese people, such gains may be short lived. Long term effectiveness of these drugs are yet to be established. Particularly, the ill effects due to long term use of these drugs may eclipse the short term benefits.
The Risks Associated With the Prescription Weight Loss Drugs
If you are inclined to consider using weight loss drugs for a long-term, please discuss the following risks and concerns with your doctor:
Addiction
Although the doctors are required to follow certain restrictions when prescribing these drugs since they could be addictive you may ask your doctor to ensure that this point has been considered.
Developing Tolerance
It has been found that most people’s loss of weight through use of prescription weight loss pills tends to level off after six months or so. It may be possible that the person has developed certain tolerance for the medication. However, it is not really clear whether this leveling off is indeed due to an acquired tolerance or due to the drug’s reaching its limit of efficacy.
Side Effects
Although some of the side effects of the prescription weight loss pills could be quite dangerous, most of the side effects are generally mild and usually improve as your body adjusts to the medication.
Discussing Prescription Weight Loss Pills with Your Doctor
A doctor, before prescribing a Weight Loss Pill, will inquire about certain details. Whether or not you have any existing allergies, whether or not you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and/or what types of other drugs you might be taking. Current health conditions also should be checked. In any case, please bear it in mind that you must inform your doctor if you are suffering from any of the following:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Hypo or Hyper Thyroidism
- Epilepsy (seizures)
- Glaucoma
- Alcohol or drug abuse (or a history of)
- Depression or some other mental illness
- Migraine headaches with medication
- Going to have surgery requiring general anesthesia
- Pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- Breastfeeding
People who are prescribed Appetite Suppressants must follow the prescription carefully. Appetite Suppressants may cause drowsiness or dizziness. Also, it is very important to know how you react to these medications before you operate some machinery or attempt driving.
Comparison of the Top 5 Weight Loss Pills
| Rank | Product | Results | safety | guarantee | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Apidexin
 |
95% | 96% | Yes. Lifetime. | 96% |
 |
2 |
Adapexin-P
 |
99% | 84% | Yes. Lifetime. | 92% | |
3 |
Phenphedrine
 |
93% | 89% | Yes. Lifetime. | 91% | |
4 |
MyoRipped
 |
88% | 82% | Yes. Lifetime. | 85% | |
5 |
DecaSlim
 |
85% | 80% | No | 83% | |