Diet Pills That Don't Require A Prescription

More than 80 million people seek weight loss diets and supplements each year in the United States. Research by K. Elfhag published in "Obesity Review" in 2005 shows that weight loss diets can be difficult to implement, and maintaining weight loss without weight regain is a bigger challenge. Yet, many people who are overweight are tempted to use over-the-counter diet pills for fast results, not knowing if the products are safe and effective, according to MayoClinic.com.

Alli

Alli is the first FDA-approved over-the-counter weight loss product for adults 18 years and older. Alli is a pill that contains orlistat, a substance that blocks about one third of dietary fat from being absorbed into the body, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The unabsorbed fat travels through the intestine and out of the body. In essence, this means that one third of calories from fat in foods do not get utilized by the body. Orlistat has been extensively studied in clinical trials in people who are obese or overweight with risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and was approved in a prescription drug called Xenical, according to the Xenical product label. Alli is effective in reducing weight when used in conjunction with low calorie diet and exercise, and is relatively safe with the exception of liver injury in some people, according to MayoClinic.com. However, Alli has some unpleasant side effects; gas, oily stools and an urgent need to defecate.

FucoGreen

FucoGreen is a diet pill that contains fucoxanthin, green tea extract and hoodia gordonii. Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid derived from brown seaweed that has antioxidant properties and is involved in the breakdown of stored fat. Clinical studies have not been published in humans for weight loss. Green tea extract is used in some diet pills because of its claimed effects on increasing calorie and fat metabolism and decreasing appetite. Yet, according to MayoClinic.com, there is insufficient reliable evidence to support the effectiveness of green tea extract as a weight loss substance, although it may be safe. Hoodia is claimed to be an appetite suppressant, but there is insufficient information based on studies to determine its effectiveness or safety, according to MayoClinic.com.

Syneburn

Syneburn contains 10mg of synephrine extracted from Citrus aurantium tree, also called bitter orange, and is promoted as a diet pill for weight loss as an appetite suppressant. Synephrine is structurally similar to ephedra, a banned substance. Synephrine increases the number of calories burned, yet there is insufficient evidence for effectiveness, and the product is possibly unsafe, according to MayoClinic.com. Synephrine was reported to cause ischemic stroke in a 38 year old man with no prior history or major atherosclerotic risk factors, according to research by N.C. Bouchard published in "Mayo Clinic Proceedings" in 2005.