To someone battling obesity without long-term success, an appetite suppressant may seem like a dream come true -- just swallow a pill, have no hungry and watch the pounds melt away. The truth is that it's not that simple. Appetite suppressants can help you with a diet, but they cannot replace one, and the fact that you get them from a doctor doesn't mean they're always your healthiest option. In fact, you can develop a dependence, as well as a host of unpleasant side effects.
What They Are
Appetite suppressants are medications that decrease your desire for food. Phentermine, phendimetrazine and diethylpropion are the most commonly prescribed, and they are all of the stimulant class of medications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of these drugs for only up to 12 weeks -- they have been found to be effective for a longer period of time, but your risk of dependence increases the longer you take them.
How They Help
The active ingredients in appetite suppressants work on your brain, although the pathways vary. Some disrupt the operation of certain neurotransmitters, while others operate through serotonin pathways to increase feelings of well-being. The appetite-suppressing effects help you stop feeling hungry while dieting and may even change your food preferences while helping you consume fewer calories. The drugs are not magic, though -- they will not make you lose weight unless you do your part. They can help you get through the initial adjustment period while you transition to a healthier diet and exercise program, but they do not work without calorie restriction. Unless you establish healthy eating and activity patterns and continue after you reach a healthy weight, the weight will come back when you stop taking the pills.
Side Effects
Appetite suppressants are stimulants and, as such, may cause side effects such as nervousness, sleeplessness and anxiety. You may develop constipation, headaches, irritability, dry mouth or dizziness, but these symptoms usually go away on their own with continued treatment. In rare cases, serious side effects such as chest pain, fainting, trouble breathing and ankle swelling may occur and require immediate medical attention. Consult your doctor if you experience irregular heartbeat, hallucinations, rash, severe headaches or episodes of mania.
Safety
Tell your weight-loss doctor your full medical history, including all medications you are taking. Appetite suppressants can react badly with a number of common drugs and can also have negative effects on alcoholics, diabetics, epileptics, those with mental illness or those with a number of other conditions. As stimulants, appetite suppressants do carry a risk of dependence. If you feel compelled to take more than directed or continue the prescription after the doctor has discontinued it, you may have become dependent. Side effects of withdrawal include depression, vomiting, fatigue and stomach pain -- consult your doctor for treatment.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Appetite Suppressant, Sympathomimetic (Oral Route); November 1, 2010
- Weight-Control Information Network: Prescription Medications for the Treatment of Obesity
- "Drugs"; Appetite Suppressants. A Review.; T. Silverstone; June 1992
- "Current Drug Targets"; Pharmacology of Appetite Suppression: Implication for the Treatment of Obesity; JC Halford; December 2001
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