Prescriptio Diet Pills

If you only need to lose a few pounds for cosmetic reasons, prescription diet pills probably aren’t for you. To obtain a prescription you generally need to have:

• been unable to lose weight through diet and exercise
• a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30
• a BMI greater than 27 along with obesity related conditions such as
  diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol

If you meet those criteria, consider the following before you get a prescription. (If you don’t meet the guidelines, see over-the-counter diet pill options.)

Effectiveness
Prescription weight loss drugs offer the advantage of being regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Claims about the effectiveness of prescription diet pills are supported by scientific evidence. But you should be aware that the data gathered in weight loss drug studies is based on taking a diet pill along with diet and exercise. So, if you plan on washing down your diet pill with a soda and sitting on the couch eating cookies all day, those studies don’t apply to you.

Safety
All prescription diet pills are FDA-approved, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are safe. Weight loss drug studies look at a small sampling of individuals over a relatively short period of time. A number of side effects and safety concerns only become apparent once a diet drug hits the market and thousands of people are taking it for an extended period of time. For example, fenfluramine, half of the popular fen-phen combination, was deemed safe only to be pulled from the market when it was found to cause heart valve problems. No weight loss drug is risk-free, even if it is FDA-approved.

Cost
Prescription diet pills can be expensive. Insurance companies are reluctant to cover the costs of a prescription unless you suffer from obesity related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or sleep apnea. If your insurance won’t cover the cost or you don’t have health insurance, expect to pay anywhere from $30 to more than $200 a month.

Types of Prescription Diet Drugs
The two main types of prescription diet pills are appetite suppressants and fat absorption blockers.

Appetite suppressants, such as phentermine (Adipex-P, Fastin, Ionamin) and sibutramine (Meridia), work by affecting your brain chemistry. The result: you aren’t hungry.

Fat absorption blockers, such as orlistat (Xenical), work by affecting the enzyme that helps break down fats in the foods you consume. The result: the excess fat you eat goes down the toilet.

So, if you are significantly overweight, suffer from obesity related conditions, and have been unable to lose weight through diet and exercise, then prescription weight loss drugs might work for you. Consult your doctor. Also, over-the-counter diet pills can be considered.

Over-the-Counter Diet Pills

Anyone can take over-the-counter diet pills, regardless of how much weight they need to lose. But is it a good idea? There are a few things you should consider before handing over your money.

Effectiveness
Over-the-counter (OTC) diet supplements are regarded as food products by the FDA. Therefore, they are not regulated in the same manner as prescription diet pills. The, often outrageous, claims of quick weight loss are not supported by scientific studies regulated by the FDA. There is no guarantee you'll lose weight, unless you include the weight of your wallet.

Safety
Since OTC diet supplements are not closely scrutinized by scientific studies, the health risks they pose are uncertain. When a new diet pill hits the market, in essence, the consumers become test subjects. While herbal supplements are not FDA-approved, the FDA will remove products from the shelves if they are proven to be dangerous, such was the case with ephedra. Consult your doctor before taking any diet pills since they may adversely interact with medications you may be taking.

Cost
The cost of OTC diet pills varies widely. Be sure to buy diet pills only from reputable dealers since some unscrupulous companies sell products that are impure or loaded with useless fillers. Expect to pay anywhere from a few dollars to more than $100 per month.

Types of OTC Diet Pills
Most brand name OTC diet pills are blends of herbs and contain a sizable amount of caffeine. Popular herbal ingredients include hoodia, green tea, bitter orange, and more. There is little scientific research showing any of the ingredients in OTC diet pills are effective for weight loss.

Bottom Line

Diet pills aren’t for everyone. If you decide to take diet pills, you still need to eat healthy and exercise, especially if you want to keep the weight off permanently. Be sure to do your homework before purchasing any weight loss product. And remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.