In the struggle to lose weight, many people turn to medications and weight-loss supplements. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has to approve any over-the-counter or prescription drug before it can be sold in the United States, it does not have to approve dietary supplements used for weight loss purposes. Always consult a physician before you take any weight loss drug, approved or otherwise.
FDA Drug Approval
Whenever a manufacturer wants to sell a drug in the U.S., it must submit the drug to the FDA for approval. The FDA's approval process involves multiple steps, including testing the product on laboratory animals and human subjects. Researchers and physicians then evaluate the drug's effects and the FDA decides to approve or reject the drug, based on the potential benefits and the risks to humans.
Obesity Prescription Drugs
The FDA has approved several prescription drugs for weight loss. These include phentermine, diethylpropion, orlistat, bupropion and metformin. These drugs, like all drugs, have side effects, some of which include dry mouth, insomnia, nervousness, headache, increased heart rate and nausea. You can only use these drugs with a physician's prescription.
Over-the-Counter Drugs
In 2007, the FDA approved orlistat, sold under the band name Alli, for over-the-counter sales. The drug had originally been introduced as a prescription-only medication in 1999, under the brand name Xenical, but in 2007 the FDA made it available to anyone over the age of 18 without a prescription. Alli has a lower dose than Xenical. The drug has known side effects that include cramping, diarrhea, oily spotting and rare cases of severe liver injury.
Dietary Supplements
Apart from FDA-approved medications, many dietary supplements are marketed for weight loss. These supplements, unlike drugs, are not FDA approved, though they are legal. The FDA does not have to approve dietary supplement before a manufacturer sells them, but it can recall or restrict supplements if it later finds them to be unsafe. The FDA has recalled numerous weight-loss dietary supplements. The FDA website publishes updates on recalled supplements and for those for which it has issued warnings.
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