Weight-Loss Drugs

Have you been traveling the road to weight loss but never even get close to your destination? If so, you're not the only dieter for whom weight loss remains a tantalizing mirage. Sometimes people who are seriously overweight need more help than diet and exercise can provide.

Even being moderately overweight can put you at risk for such life-threatening conditions as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, orthopedic problems, gallbladder disease, and sleep apnea. But the risks are even greater if you are seriously or severely overweight (at least 100 pounds overweight or twice your ideal weight). If you are desperate to shed weight to reduce health risks, weight-loss drugs may be an option to consider. But before you decide to take this route, there is much to learn.

Weight-Loss Drugs

Buyer Beware
When it comes to weight-loss products, be wary of claims that sound too good to be true. Be on the lookout for claims containing words and phrases that are clues to fraud, such as
  • Ancient
  • Breakthrough
  • Easy
  • Effortless
  • Exclusive
  • Exotic
  • Guaranteed
  • Magical
  • Miraculous
  • Mysterious
  • New discovery
  • Secret

First, talk to your doctor about your interest in using medication to lose weight. The doctor will determine whether you are a good candidate for the medication route and whether prescription medication or an over-the-counter product would be more appropriate. Weight-loss drugs work best when combined with a healthy diet and regular physical activity, and the doctor will help you work out a beneficial eating and activity plan.

Prescription Medicines

Your doctor will consider a number of factors, including your current weight, your weight history, your medical history, and the methods you have used to lose weight in the past, to determine if you are a good candidate for prescription weight-loss medication.

If you have obesity-related health problems or are at high risk for such problems, and if you have been unable to lose weight or maintain a healthier weight using traditional methods, the doctor may decide that a weight-loss medication is right for you. These medications are not intended for people who are only mildly overweight. And they are not to be used only to improve appearance.

Weight-loss medications work by either suppressing your appetite (such as sibutramine), creating a feeling of fullness (such as phendimetrazine), or reducing the body's ability to absorb fat from food (such as orlistat). Other medications used to treat conditions such as depression or diabetes may have an "off-label" use for weight loss. This means that while they have not been approved for the treatment of obesity, they may have a side effect that promotes weight reduction and are prescribed by a doctor for that purpose. Amphetamine-based products, such as phentermine and phendimetrazine, are used only for short-term treatment of obesity, during the first few weeks of a weight-loss program. They should not be used longer than that because you can develop a tolerance to their appetite-reducing effects and become dependent on the medication. Talk with your doctor about the different types of medications available and which fits best with your medical and personal history. Be sure to ask about the following:

Your doctor will determine whether weight-loss drugs are right for you.

Your doctor will determine if weight-loss drugs are right for you.

Effectiveness: How effective a weight-loss medication will be is difficult to predict because it depends on how your body responds. Some people lose more than 10 percent of their starting body weight, while others may lose less. Your doctor may need to adjust the dosage of your medication based on your medical condition and response to the drug. Most studies of weight-loss medications show that maximum weight loss usually occurs in the first six months.

Side Effects: While most side effects reported are mild, a serious heart problem was linked to two popular medications (fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine) that have since been withdrawn from the market. Side effects will vary depending on the medication and may include restlessness, insomnia, dizziness, dry mouth, diarrhea, constipation, and elevated blood pressure. Side effects often decrease with continued treatment.

Post-Treatment Experiences: Many people are concerned that they will regain weight after stopping a weight-loss medication. Although this is certainly possible, maintaining healthy eating and physical activity habits will increase your chances of keeping the weight off.

Over-The-Counter Pills and Supplements

There is a crucial difference between prescription and over-the-counter weight-loss medications. Prescription weight-loss drugs must go through rigorous research before being released, while over-the-counter diet pills and supplements may not be tested at all. Nonprescription diet pills and supplements are loosely regulated, and manufacturers do not have to prove that their products are safe or effective for weight loss.

This is not to say that there are no over-the-counter diet pills or supplements that aid weight loss. But you have to be extremely careful. Some products are simply worthless, while others may interact dangerously with prescription or over-the-counter drugs that you may be taking. And some have very unpleasant side effects.

The Federal Trade Commission has taken steps to prevent marketers of bogus weight-loss pills, potions, and powders from selling their products. And the Food and Drug Administration has banned certain ingredients from over-the-counter diet products, including alcohol, caffeine, dextrose, guar gum, phenylpropanolamine (PPA), and ephedra, because they have proved ineffective or unsafe. However, their efforts have not completely prevented the sale of products that are useless, dangerous, or both. If you want to try an over-the-counter diet product, first check with your doctor or a pharmacist. They can advise you about the benefits and risks of various products and warn you about potential interactions with any other medications or supplements that you are taking.

The Magic-Bullet Myth

Everyone is looking for the "magic bullet" when it comes to weight loss. Dieters spend loads of time and money on diet pills and supplements that promise to "burn," "block," "flush," or otherwise eliminate fat from your body. The truth is that science has yet to come up with a "magic bullet" for weight loss, and none of these diet pills and supplements cause weight loss on its own. When combined with a healthful diet and physical activity plan, you may see results. Don't expect instant results or tremendous weight loss. Side effects, you should know, can be unpleasant.

Here are just a few examples of products that claim to promote weight loss but simply do not work:
  • Fat blockers claim to absorb fat and interfere with its digestion so the fat you eat doesn't supply calories.

  • "Magnet" diet pills allegedly attract fat and flush it out of the body.

  • Diet patches, which are worn on the skin, purportedly suppress your appetite.

  • Chitosan diet pills claim to assist weight loss by binding dietary fat before it is digested.

  • Blue-green algae, also known as spirulina, promises to help control your appetite.
In addition to being a waste of time and money, the following products and ingredients can be harmful to your health:
  • "Bulk" or "filler" products, such as fiber-based products, absorb liquid and swell in your stomach, making you feel full. Some products can cause blockages in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines.

  • Starch blockers promise to impede digestion of starches, or complex carbohydrates. Users have reported nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pains.

  • Pyruvate-containing products claim to boost metabolism and promote weight loss. Taking large amounts can cause intestinal distress, bloating, and diarrhea.
Weight-loss drugs may be an option to consider if you need more help than diet and exercise can provide. Learn as much as you can and speak with your doctor before taking any drug.

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.

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