When you're trying to lose weight, especially if you have a large amount to lose, it's easy to become frustrated and discouraged. You begin wishing for some miracle answer to appear, one that will take away your excess pounds almost overnight. This is what diet pills represent for so many people -- a miracle cure. While far from the cure-all they are sometimes promoted as, they can be effective when used correctly.
Check the Side Effects
Before taking any diet pill -- prescription or over-the-counter -- talk to your doctor about the possible side effects the pill might cause. To unearth the side effects of over-the-counter pills, you will need to bring your doctor a list of the ingredients; these are the cause behind any possible side effect you may experience while taking anything other than a prescription medication.
Your BMI
Your BMI, or body mass index, helps determine whether or not you need a diet pill to jump start your diet. Mandy Leonard, PharmD, Assistant Director of the Drug Information Center at Cleveland Clinic explains diet pills are usually reserved for people with a BMI greater than 30. You may also be a candidate if your BMI is 27 and you have a serious medical condition related to your obesity such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Think Short-term
Any diet pill is meant for short-term use, usually 12 weeks or less. This is when it is most effective; a majority of your weight is lost in this time frame. Some diet pills are highly addictive; even when they no longer work, you want to continue taking them. You can help prevent this by taking the pill only as directed for the period of time it is recommended. Anything more is neither practical nor safe.
Change Your Lifestyle Habits
Most diet pills produce the greatest results when you combine them with a healthy eating and exercise plan. Even the miracle pills advertised on TV come with a plan for you to follow. Following a healthy diet increases the rate at which you lose weight while taking the pill, and sets you up for long-term weight loss success once you stop.
Check the FDA Website
The FDA is responsible for approving new drugs based on their safety and efficacy. If, however, they feel a drug is too much of a health risk after being released, they can pull it off the market. They do not have to approve over-the-counter diet pills before their release because they are listed as dietary supplements. Once on the market, the FDA monitors them for safety, issues warnings and has the power to pull them from the market, just as they do prescription medications. Checking the FDA website gives you the ability to check any new warnings they issue and read current information they release on both prescription and over-the-counter diet pills. You can also report any negative or serious side effects you experience with a particular medication.
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