Ephedra Free Diet Pills Vs. Phentermine

You can find ephedra-free diet pills advertised all over the Internet --- or you can simply pick some up the next time you go to the drugstore. If the weight loss supplement is marketed as "ephedra free," you can have some peace of mind that you aren't ingesting a potentially deadly substance banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. But be aware of several differences between ephedra-free diet pills and phentermine, a prescription medication doctors may recommend for weight loss.

Phentermine Facts

Phentermine is one of three prescription anti-obesity medications that functions as an anorectic, or appetite suppressant. According to the Weight-control Information Network, or WIN, phentermine is the most commonly used weight loss medication in the United States. The FDA has approved its use for adults for no longer than 12 weeks. Most people who take phentermine do so for between three and six weeks, according to PubMed Health. For this medication to be successful, patients must learn how to eat more healthfully and adjust their lifestyles so they get more physical activity. Phentermine and other prescription weight loss medications aren't for you if you need to drop a few pounds or simply aren't happy with the way you look. These medications are reserved for obese individuals whose weight jeopardizes their health or for those with existing obesity-related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes.

Phentermine Side Effects

Phentermine has the potential to be addictive. Phentermine is associated with several known side effects, including diarrhea, constipation, vomiting and a dry mouth. More severe side effects such as dizziness, sleeplessness, tremors, chest pain, a rapid heart beat, high blood pressure and swollen legs and ankles can occur. If you take phentermine, contact your doctor immediately if side effects are severe.

Ephedra-Free Diet Pills

A weight loss supplement that's touted as "ephedra free" doesn't contain ephedra among its ingredients. Legally, it can't; in April 2004, the FDA banned the sale of all weight loss supplements containing ephedra. This botanical, also known as ma huang, may also work like an anorectic. However, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine states that the risk of using ephedra-based weight loss supplements is greater than the potential reward. Ephedra-free diet pills can contain any combination of vitamins, minerals, herbs and other botanicals. MayoClinic.com indicates that some ingredients used in these supplements can include guar gum, hoodia, chitosan, extracts of green tea and conjugated linoleic acid. After the FDA's ruling, many weight loss supplement manufacturers resorted to using bitter orange, which has chemical properties similar to ephedra. However, bitter orange is not without risk either; MayoClinic.com blogger and nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky indicates that side effects of these ephedra-free diet pills may include high blood pressure, a rapid heart beat, migraines, fainting, heart attack and stroke.

Weight Loss Supplement Cautions

Ephedra-free diet pills may seem like a good idea in theory, but it's vital that you understand how these products are classified and controlled. These are dietary supplements, not drugs. The FDA does not require dietary supplement manufacturers to provide a guarantee of safety or efficacy before they release the weight loss supplement to consumers. The FDA can, however, monitor weight loss supplements and take action if a certain product is proven to be harmful, as it did with ephedra. Ephedra-free diet pills can interact with medications and other dietary supplements you take. They can also make certain existing health problems worse. Always talk with your treating physician before you resort to an over-the-counter weight loss cure. The FDA reports that contaminated weight loss pills with undeclared ingredients find their way to the consumer marketplace. Some of these supplements contain potent and dangerous pharmaceuticals, including strong diuretics, experimental anti-obesity drugs not tested on humans, antidepressants and even substances that are suspected to cause cancer.

Better Weight Loss

Talk to your doctor if you have problems losing weight before you resort to nonprescription dietary supplements. According to WIN, phentermine is generally prescribed to people with a body mass index, or BMI, or 30 or more, as well as those with a BMI of 27 or more who have health problems related to weight. If you just need to lose that last 10 lb., trimming calories and regular physical activity is your winning combo. MayoClinic.com recommends losing no more than 2 lb. of weight per week. A single pound equals 3,500 calories. If you create a deficit of 500 calories every day through diet and exercise, you'll lose 1 lb. every week. Slow, steady weight loss is more likely to be permanent --- and it's also safer.