The Side Effects and Dangers of Diet Pills
The largely unregulated nature of the diet pill industry opens up the market for fraud. When trying to lose weight, it is important to stand by the advice of your doctor and if you must use a diet pill, stick with the ones that are most branded and popular. These diet pill manufacturers have a reputation to maintain.
There are diet pills on the market that contain substances that are banned, like Ephedra and others that claim to include ingredients that are not even included in the supplement. With dosages that are incorrect or unclear, health risks can be severe.
Possible Side Effects of Diet Pills
At the heart of many diet pills, prescription and over the counter, are ingredients that increase the heart rate in order to stimulate metabolism. The heart rate is raised through hypothalamus and nervous system stimulation. The blood pressure can also be raised in these cases.
The use of diet pills in patients who have a history of heart problems or high blood pressure can be detrimental to the health. Leaving these patients with a higher chance of heart attack. Also, patients who have a history of anxiety attacks may want to take caution when using diet pills as they may increase the severity and longevity of the attacks.
Patients who are healthy are not out of the woods either, the not so pleasant side effects of diet pills can affect even the healthiest of people. The side effects are determined by which of the two types of diet pills are used.
The possible side effects related to the use of diet pills supports the fact that a doctor or physician should always be consulted when choosing to try a diet pill.
Brand Ephedra
A now partially banned diet pill ingredient, Ephedra was once a popular inclusion in many diet pills. In 2004, users of the diet pills containing Ephedra were found to be at greater risk of high blood pressure and heart attacks. After these initial findings, the product was only pulled from some shelves. A very short period of time thereafter, nearly every Ephedra product was banned from use in the United States.
After the ban, a Federal Judge in the United States overturned the verdict and stated that the FDA was responsible for proving the link between Ephedra and the heart related symptoms. Today, Ephedra can be used as an ingredient in weight loss products as long as the dosage remains below 10 mg. While Ephedra or Ephedrine may now be used in the production of diet pills, it is our recommendation that this product be avoided. Ephedra has been linked to deaths in many users and we believe it will be banned in the United States again in the future.
Brand Fenfluramine
A predecessor to Ephedra, Fenfluramine was banned in the United States before Ephedra was banned. This appetite suppressant has been linked to damage of the heart valves when combined with other weight loss products. The product was last seen in Japan in 2002 where it was linked to user deaths. Sennomoto-kono, a weight loss aid manufactured with Fenfluramine and other chemicals was linked to kidney and liver damage.
Brand Guar Gum
In 1992, Guar Gum was banned by the FDA for health risks posed to users of this weight loss aid ingredient. The route of action was supposed to be a feeling of fullness in the stomach, but many patients were experiencing swelling of the throat and stomach causing health problems.
