Prescription Diet Pills: The Magical Fix?

There are hundreds of diet pills on the market, each claiming to help you lose weight the quick and easy way. Diet pills, prescription or over the counter, claim to help you lose weight by:

• suppressing your appetite
• boosting your body’s metabolism
• blocking fat
• blocking carbohydrates.

But what kind of diet pills are out there, and which pills really work? 

Xenical

Xenical has been available only by prescription for a long time, but it’s lower dose version, called orlistat, has recently made headlines in the over the counter drug called Alli. Alli is taken three times a day with meals and helps prevent your body from absorbing fat- blocking up to 25 percent!  For most people, this results in a 100-200 calorie loss a day, which is a healthy weight loss. Alli has been clinically shown to help users lose about 50% more weight- that means instead of 20 pounds, you lose 30 pounds. Alli is meant to be taken along with a reduced-calorie diet and an exercise plan. Currently Alli is sold over the counter that includes a calorie and fat counter, a nutritional guide, a food journal and a month’s supply of the pills which retails for about $54. 

Side Effects

Since Alli blocks fat, it recommends eating about 30% of your calories from fat. If you eat more fat than that, you’ll likely experience bowel changes such as diarrhea, loose stools or gas. People who take Alli should also consider taking a multivitamin to make up for any nutrients they aren’t getting when starting a new diet program. 

Will This Drug Work For You?

Alli was made for overweight people with a Body Mass Index of over 25. For most people who are not overweight, the digestive side effects outweigh the benefit of Alli, whereas for overweight people, the long term health effects of being overweight or obese are mush riskier than the side effects. Remember to always consult your doctor before starting a diet or exercise program. 

Meridia (sibutramine)

Meridia is a prescription weight loss drug designed to help users feel fuller faster. Meridia does this by affecting two brain chemicals that control how full we feel: serotonin and norepinephrine. In clinical trials, this drug was shown to promote an average weight loss of ten more pounds than the placebo. 

Side Effects

Meridia has been in trials testing the weight loss of over 12,000 patients, but many experts are worried about the temporary increase in users’ blood pressure, heart attack and stroke risk. A non-profit group called Public Citizen tried to get Meridia banned in 2002 because of evidence that Meridia could have been a factor in 29 deaths and heart palpitations, heart attacks and more.  The FDA chose not to ban Meridia but promised to scrutinize how safe the drug was. Meridia is still available today over the counter. 

Will This Drug Work For You? 

Meridia is meant for overweight or obese people that also have at least one weight-related medical condition, such as sleep apnea or high cholesterol. Meridia helps you feel full, so people that feel they never really feel satisfied after eating should consider this drug. Since Meridia raises blood pressure, your doctor should monitor your blood pressure and check it once or twice a month. Ask your doctor is Meridia is covered by your health insurance, because at $120 a month, it’s an expensive drug. 

Other Weight Loss Drugs

Over the counter diet supplements are not regulated by the FDA, as the other drugs discussed in this article were, so effects have not necessarily been studied in clinical trials and effectiveness remains unknown. Amphetamines are usually sold as a prescription for attention-deficit disorder, but small amounts often appear in weight loss drugs. Amphetamines can cause decreased appetite and increased stamina, but can also cause insomnia, hallucinations and heart tremors. Taking amphetamines over the counter is not advised.

Ephedrine, the medicinal name for what’s commonly sold as ephedra, can be very harmful. It’s been known to cause heart attacks, seizures, insomnia, and in rare cases, death. The FDA banned the sale of ephedrine in 2004 because of the hazardous side effects. St John’s Wort can also interact with other medicines you’re taking, such as antidepressants and birth control pills, and is not recommended because no clinical studies have shown its effectiveness.  

Bottom Line

Talk to your doctor before starting any new weight loss drug or diet program. Only your doctor can tell you what drugs might interfere with other prescription drugs or supplements you’re taking. Make sure you understand all the risk before taking diet drugs and always read the label of your product.