The U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn't regulate, research or approve over-the-counter diet pills, except for Alli. As a result, there's no way to know what risks or dangers a pill carries until enough people try it and report their experience. According to Weight Loss Resources, there's also little information to know whether a pill works or not or what the proper dosage is. This could cause some people to take larger dosages in hopes of obtaining faster and better results.
Gatrointestinal Issues
Alli is the only FDA-approved diet pill you can buy without a prescription. Alli is a fat blocker, which means it prevents your body from absorbing part of the fat you consume. The fat that isn't absorbed passes through your body undigested and causes a number of side effects, including diarrhea, oily spotting, gas and cramps.
Racing Heart
Fat burners and energy enhancers work by speeding up your heart rate. This in turn increases the speed of your metabolism and your calorie burning. In some people, a racing heart can affect blood pressure and could lead to a heart attack. Caffeine-containing pills can also cause irritability, anxiety, tremors and restlessness. Some people might also experience insomnia.
Addiction
One danger many people ignore is that diet pills can easily become addictive. Although they don't have the same powerful effect as nicotine or drugs like cocaine, people can become dependent because some might contain addictive ingredients, notes Drugs.com. This is more common with over-the-counter diet pills that are stimulants, as these can cause symptoms of withdrawal and even psychiatric problems, when you stop taking them.
Fatal Outcomes
In 2004, the FDA banned ephedra, a weight loss pill that worked by speeding up the metabolism. Ephedra was linked to high blood pressure, seizures, heatstroke, heart attacks and deaths, even when taken in small doses. People with previous heart conditions were especially at risk, but even athletes reported serious side effects, according to The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide.
References
- NBC.com; Diet Pill's Icky Side Effects Keep Users Honest; Melissa Dahl; July 2007
- My Overweight Child; What About Over-the-Counter Weight Loss Pills?; Linda Hepler; 2010
- Weight Loss Resources; Diet Pills Online Review; Juliette Kellow; 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Alli Weight-Loss Pill: Does it Work?; June 2010
- Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide: Ephedra Ban
- Drugs.com; Online Brazilian Diet Pills Can Be Addictive; April 2010
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