Diet pills offer one way to kick-off your weight loss program. The decision to take diet pills should not be taken lightly. These medications or dietary supplements contain potent ingredients and may cause mild or serious side effects. If you think diet pills are right for you, consult with your health professional before you take them.
Over-the-Counter
Over-the-counter diet pills do not require a doctor's prescription. They also generally do not undergo the same scientific testing that prescription medications, because they are typically classified as dietary supplements. Over-the-counter dietary supplements intended for weight loss include natural active ingredients such as green tea extract, hoodia, guar gum, chromium and bitter orange. MayoClinic.com reports that there has not been enough evidence shown to rate the efficacy of any of these ingredients. In addition, bitter orange is possibly unsafe and insufficient evidence exists to rate the safety of hoodia.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a common ingredient in diet pills. It's used alone or in combination with other ingredients. According to Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky, in theory caffeine may suppress your appetite, burn calories and act as a diuretic resulting in water weight loss. However, clinical studies on caffeine and its effect on weight loss have been of poor quality or not definitive. Zeratsky warns that caffeine can result in nervousness, insomnia and other problems.
Orlistat
Orlistat, a lipase inhibitor, is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved active ingredient in certain prescription and over-the-counter diet pills. Combined with exercise and diet modifications, a lipase inhibitor blocks the absorption of some fats in the food you eat as it moves through your digestive system, according to MedlinePlus, a publication of the National Institutes of Health. You should follow directions from your doctor; however MedlinePlus indicates that you generally take orlistat with fatty meals and not with healthy ones. Anti-coagulants and diabetes medications, along with other drugs, can interact negatively with orlistat. MedlinePlus warns that side effects of orlistat may include oily spotting on your underwear, flatulence with oily spotting, oily feces, difficulty controlling bowel movements, rectal discomfort and irregular menstrual spotting.
Phentermine
Phentermine, similar to an amphetamine, is available by prescription to suppress your appetite. You feel full longer making you likely to eat less. Dr. Donald Hensrud, a preventive medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic, says this drug is one of the most commonly prescribed weight loss medications, but patients who do not make additional lifestyle and dietary changes quickly regain all the weight lost.
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