Prescription diet pills can help in the weight loss battle but they are not for everyone. Before using prescription weight loss pills it is important to try diet and exercise as a weight loss method.Although the prescription weight loss pills on the market are safe, any medication can have unpleasant side effects and interact with other medications. If, after trying traditional weight loss methods, you still find yourself struggling with your weight, you may want to consider weight loss pills. The Mayo Clinic points out, however, that while prescription diet pills aid in weight loss, it is still important to eat fewer calories than you burn to lose weight.
Step 1
Determine your body mass index. Most physicians use BMI to determine if a patient is overweight. Each doctor has his own criteria for how high a patient's BMI must be before he prescribes medication for weight loss. Someone with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is technically overweight, and a BMI of 30 or more is obese. Many doctors will prescribe diet pills for someone with a lower BMI if the patient has other health conditions, such as diabetes, that excess weight makes worse.
Step 2
Research different types of diet pills. Different diet pills work in different ways. Phentermine acts as an appetite suppressant and stimulant. This helps control your hunger and provides you with energy that makes it easier to maintain an exercise program. Xenical works in the digestive system to prevent the absorption of fat in food. The undigested fat passes through the body and is expelled as a waste product. Meridia increases the patient's feeling of fullness. Since he feels full for a longer period, he is more easily able to control his calorie intake.
Step 3
Each prescription weight loss pill has potential drawbacks. Weigh the potential side effects and interactions carefully for your particular situation. Common side effects of Xenical are loose bowels, uncontrollable diarrhea and abdominal pain and discomfort. Phentermine and Meridia can cause a rapid heart rate, and are not recommended for those with high blood pressure. According to the Mayo Clinic, Meridia works by increasing the amounts of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, which is similar to the actions of many antidepressants. If you are taking antidepressants, Meridia is probably not a good choice for prescription weight loss.
Step 4
Talk to your doctor. Once you have information of various types of prescription diet medications, talk to your doctor about your weight issue. She will take a complete medical history, including height, weight and blood pressure, as well as ask about any prescription and over-the-counter medications you are taking. She can then write you a prescription for weight loss pills if she believes that they will help you lose weight and not interfere with other medications you are taking.
Step 5
Visit a weight loss clinic. Some doctors are reluctant to prescribe diet pills; instead they will encourage you to try different diets or exercise programs. Fortunately, many weight loss clinics specialize in helping people with weight problems gain control of their situation. These clinics prescribe weight loss pills, provide weight loss support and may even offer weight loss surgery. The doctors that work in these facilities are familiar with the challenges of those trying to lose weight and are in business to help in that effort. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, 60 percent of Americans are overweight or obese. Weight loss clinics serve an important function in the battle against weight loss.
Tips and Warnings
- Start a formal diet and exercise program when you begin taking diet pills rather than counting on the diet pills to do all of the work.
- If you feel any side effects, such as rapid heart beat or dizziness, after taking the diet pills, discontinue taking them and talk to your doctor.
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