When trying to lose weight quickly diet pills may seem like a good option. Some weight loss medications prescribed by physicians that are generally considered safe, but there are also many prescription and over the counter pills that may cause side effects, such as increasing the risk for heart disease. Before taking any diet pill, check with a health care provider first, especially if you have a heart condition.
Considerations
Diet pills work by either blocking the absorption of some of the fat that is eaten in a meal, suppressing appetite or speeding up metabolism. While speeding up metabolism will cause the body to burn off more calories, it can also make the heart muscle work harder, which can speed up the heart rate and increase blood pressure. Chemicals used in appetite suppressant medications that are designed to affect mood and appetite, may also affect the heart. Some of these prescription medications are FDA approved and include phentermine, phendimetrazine and diethylpropion. Due to potential side effects, speak with your health care provider to weigh out the risks and benefits of taking diet pills, states the Weight Control Information Network.
Warnings
Diet pills that contain fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine or a combination of fenfluramine and phentermine called "fen-phen," were pulled from the market back in 1997 by the FDA. These diet pills were linked to a higher risk of heart valve disease. According to the FDA, some patients taking pills containing these ingredients had abnormal echocardiograms without any symptoms, meaning that the patients did not even know they were at risk. While the exact link is not well understood, it appears that some patients have an unusual reaction to the above drugs which leads to leaky heart valves. If the heart valves leak; the heart can not pump correctly; which over time can lead to a serious heart condition. While the FDA has banned these diet pills, you should be wary as they can still be found online.
Uses
Some diet pills that are physician prescribed and approved for use by the FDA, contain the ingredient phentermine. These drugs need to be used with caution. Phentermine is an amphetamine-like medication which can have serious side effects such as increased blood pressure and elevated heart rate, reports MayoClinic.com. Due to the potential for side effects, diet pills containing phentermine are designed for short term use only and they must be accompanied by lifestyle changes or any weight lost, may be regained. Phentermine may help jump start weight loss in obese individuals but it should not be taken by patients with known heart disease.
Solution
If heart disease is a concern, there is another prescription weight loss medication called Xenical or Alli. Alli is the the over the counter version. According to the Cleveland Clinic, this medication works by blocking the absorption of about 30 percent of the fat eaten in a meal. While there are side effects, it does not appear to cause heart disease. In general, prescription weight loss medications are reserved for those who are morbidly obese or have a high risk of weight related health problems. They must be combined with adopting a lifetime of healthy eating habits and exercise.
References
- Weight Control Information Network: Prescription Medications for the Treatment of Obesity
- Food and Drug Administration: FDA Announces Withdrawal Fenfluramine and Dexfenfluramine (Fen-Phen)
- MayoClinic.com: Phentermine: Can Prescription Medication Help Weight Loss?
- Cleveland Clinic: Questions About Weight Control
