If you have more than just a few extra pounds to lose, appetite control pills can potentially help you lose weight. These pills, also called appetite suppressants, work on your brain chemistry to decrease your appetite and enhance your mood, according to the National Institute on Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. But some appetite suppressants are potentially dangerous, and you should not take them. Also, if you are pregnant, nursing or have a pre-existing medical condition such as high blood pressure, you should avoid using appetite control pills.
Phentermine
Phentermine, marketed as Adipex-P, is the most commonly prescribed appetite control pill in the United States, according to the National Institute on Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. However, once you stop taking phentermine, you might regain any weight lost. You should not take phentermine for more than 12 weeks at a time; most doctors only prescribe the drug for three to six weeks at a time. You may experience side effects such as dry mouth, dizziness, sleeplessness and constipation.
Diethylpropion
Diethylpropion is another common appetite control pill and is usually marketed under brand names such as Durad and Tenuate, according to PubMed Health. You should only take the drug for up to 12 weeks at a time. Your doctor may prescribe an instant-release form of the drug that you must take three times daily before meals, or he may prescribe an extended-release tablet that you take every morning. You may experience side effects such as increased urination, vomiting, upset stomach, anxiety or an unpleasant taste in your mouth.
Phendimetrazine
Your doctor may prescribe phendimetrazine, or Bontril, as an appetite suppressant. You should only take the drug for up to 12 weeks at a time. You may suffer from sleeplessness or nervousness while taking phendimetrazine. If you experience side effects such as heart palpitations, increased blood pressure, difficulty breathing, psychosis, itching or hives, you need immediate emergency medical attention.
Potentially Dangerous Pills
Representatives of the Food and Drug Administration have banned several over-the-counter and prescription appetite control pills. You should not take fen-phen, a combination of phentermine and fenfluramine that caused serious and sometimes fatal heart and lung damage in some patients. Most over-the-counter appetite suppressants are dangerous and may contain potentially harmful ingredients such as bitter orange or ephedra, warns Mayo Clinic.
References
- Weight-control Information Network; Prescription Medications for the Treatment of Obesity; December 2010
- Mayo Clinic; Over-the-Counter Weight Loss Pills; February 2010
- Mayo Clinic; Phentermine - Can Prescription Medication Help Weight Loss?; Donald Hensrud, MD; October 2009
- PubMed Health: Diethylpropion
- Mayo Clinic; Appetite Suppressant, Sympathomimetic; November 2010
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