Men who carry extra weight, especially around the abdomen, are at heightened risk for heart attack and stroke, warns Mayo Clinic. However, diet pills do not magically melt fat and are not necessarily more effective in men than in women. The drugs either suppress the appetite or block fat from being digested. Most effective and safe diet pills are only available by prescription, but even prescribed diet pills carry some risk of side effects. Consult your doctor before taking diet pills.
Appetite Suppressants
If you need to lose more than just a few pounds, ask your doctor about a prescription appetite suppressant. The pills decrease your appetite and may increase your energy, but you must do your part by eating properly and exercising. You cannot safely use appetite suppressants such as phentermine or diethylpropion for more than 12 weeks at a time, warns the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Fat-Blocking Drugs
Lipase inhibitors block the digestion of fat from the food you eat. You can purchase the fat-blocking drug orlistat in its over-the-counter form, called Alli, or get a prescription for the stronger form of the drug, Xenical. Orlistat is the only diet pill recommended for long-term use and should not impact your brain chemistry or blood pressure like an appetite suppressant would.
Supplements to Avoid
Do not take any over-the-counter diet pills consisting of ephedra, ephedrine, ma huang, country mallow or heartleaf, warns Mayo Clinic. Representatives of the Food and Drug Administration have banned supplements containing such ingredients because they pose an unacceptable risk of cardiac problems. Also, do not take fen-phen, a prescription blend of the appetite suppressants fenfluramine and phentermine, due to its risk of causing serious heart and lung problems. The FDA banned fen-phen in 1997.
Potential Side Effects
You might experience symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing, itching and hives, after taking a diet pill; if this happens, seek immediate medical attention. Other potentially serious side effects include increased heart rate, hallucinations, jaundice and dark-colored urine, according to PubMed Health. If you experience headache, sleeping problems, dizziness, anxiety, depression, nausea or problems with bowel movements, you do not need immediate medical attention unless the symptoms become severe or will not go away.
References
- Mayo Clinic; Belly Fat in Men; February 2011
- Weight-control Information Network; Prescription Medications for the Treatment of Obesity; December 2010
- PubMed Health; Orlistat; August 2010
- Mayo Clinic; Over-the-Counter Weight Loss Pills; February 2010
- Mayo Clinic; Appetite Suppressant, Sympathomimetic (Oral Route); November 2010
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