While many over-the-counter and prescription drugs can potentially help you lose weight, as of 2011 the Food and Drug Administration has officially approved only four drugs for weight-loss purposes. The number of approved weight-loss drugs used to be higher, but several were taken off the market due to an unacceptably high risk of serious side effects, including death.
Prescription Phentermine
Phentermine is a drug that can decrease your appetite and enhance your energy, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. It is the most commonly prescribed diet aid in the United States and has been approved for medical use since 1959. But you should not take phentermine for more than 12 weeks at a time. Phentermine was part of the banned fen-phen combo, but Food and Drug Administration officials declared that the fenfluramine part of the drug was dangerous and not phentermine.
Prescription Diethylpropion
Diethylpropion is another appetite suppressant available only by prescription. You can take the drug, usually marketed under brand names such as Durad, Tenuate and Tepanil, in an instant-release form before meals or as an extended-release remedy every morning. According to PubMed Health, you may suffer from side effects such as restlessness, dry mouth, an unpleasant taste in your mouth, increased urination and depression when taking diethylpropion.
Prescription Orlistat
Prescription orlistat, or Xenical, will trap fat from the food you eat and prevent it from being digested into your body, according to the Mayo Clinic. Xenical consists of 120 mg of orlistat and can help you lose an additional 5 to 7 lbs. per year. But if you eat high-fat meals, you can suffer from side effects such as uncontrollable bowel movements, rectal pain, frequent bowel movements, gas that causes oily spotting on your underwear and severe stomachaches.
Over-the-Counter Orlistat
Over-the-counter orlistat, marketed as Alli, also blocks fat from your food and passes it out of your body through bowel movements, according to the Mayo Clinic. But since Alli has only 60 mg of orlistat in each pill, you will probably lose only an additional 3 to 5 lbs. annually. Also, as of 2011 representatives of the Food and Drug Administration were investigating user allegations that Alli caused severe liver injury. If you are taking Alli or Xenical and become jaundiced, pass dark-colored urine or light-colored stools, you should immediately get medical attention.
Member Comments