Information Guide For Diet Pills

No magic pill or cure exists when trying to lose weight, however, many overweight adults are easily tempted by the latest diet pill on the market, believing the companies' claims regarding the efficacy of their pills. Here is the problem: the temptation to lose weight rapidly and without effort overcomes your ability to make a sound judgment based on solid information. Diet pills have both pros and cons. Before purchasing, you should consider both.

Over-the-Counter Pills

Over-the-counter diet pills are marketed as appetite suppressants. They are similar to the class of drugs called amphetamines, explains Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Amphetamines cause behavioral side effects such as temporary hyperactivity and increased energy, while the temporary psychological effects are a sense of euphoria and paranoia. Physical effects include increased heart rate and breathing, increased blood pressure and higher body temperature. The side effects of over-the-counter diet pills are similar to those of amphetamines, but less extreme. Some contain stimulants or diuretics that increase blood pressure, contribute to insomnia or cause seizures. Diet pills are usually sold in pharmacies or local drug stores. Although they are not as addictive as illicit street drugs, you can become addicted to the caffeine or various stimulants they contain, according to Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

Prescription Pills

As MayoClinic.com states, you must first be considered a candidate for prescription diet pills. Your BMI, or body mass index, has to be 30 or greater, or 27 with an accompanying health condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure. You can expect to lose, on average, 5 to 10 percent of your total body weight within one year, and unless you change your behavioral and eating habits, you are likely to regain the weight.

The FDA Website

Over-the-counter diet pills do not undergo the same testing for safety and efficacy as prescription medications because they are listed as dietary supplements. Once on the market, however, the FDA can closely monitor the products for any side effects consumers may experience. When too many of the same side effects are noted, the FDA can then pull the drug. MayoClinic.com recommends checking the FDA website regularly for product recalls and safety concerns related to diet pills. You can also read any consumer complaints on the site, or leave one yourself. The FDA uses this information when determining the safety of over-the-counter diet pills.

Read the Ingredients

Most ingredients in over-the-counter diet pills are a combination of the same ingredients. These include chromium, fish oil, green tea, guarana, L-carnitine, pantethine and aspartate. Not a shred of evidence exists to prove these ingredients promote weight loss, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. Additionally, some may produce harmful side effects. Chromium, for instance, can cause sterility.

Involve Your Doctor

No matter how tempting diet pills are, allow your doctor to be your voice of reason. Discuss the pros and cons of weight loss aids with him, including the possible benefits and long-term risks. If going the prescription diet pill route, take into consideration the cost and whether or not your insurance will cover it.