When the arteries pump blood through your body with too much force, you have hypertension, or high blood pressure. While losing weight will help you decrease your blood pressure, you cannot safely take prescription appetite suppressants such as phentermine, warns PubMed Health. The Food and Drug Administration has not designated any diet medications as specifically geared toward high blood pressure, so speak to your doctor before taking other types of weight loss pills.
Over-the-Counter Orlistat
Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor that prevents your body from digesting the fat from the food you eat and instead passes it out of your system through your bowel movements, according to the Mayo Clinic. The drug does not affect your blood pressure or your brain. You can purchase a mild form of orlistat over-the-counter under the brand name Alli and on it, you should lose an extra 3 to 5 lbs per year than you would with just diet and exercise changes. Take orlistat at least two hours before or after your other medications or supplements.
Prescription Orlistat
Prescription orlistat, sold as the brand name Xenical, can help you lose an additional 5 to 7 lbs each year without affecting your blood pressure, notes the Mayo Clinic. However, in rare instances orlistat may cause severe liver injuries; call your doctor immediately if you become jaundiced or pass light-colored stools or dark-colored urine. Do not take orlistat with high-fat meals or you will markedly increase your risk of experiencing uncontrollable bowel movements, fatty stools, loose stools, oily gas, stomach aches and rectal pain.
Bupropion as a Weight Loss Pill
While the antidepressant bupropion is not a FDA-approved weight loss pill, some doctors prescribe it “off label” to help patients lose weight, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Bupropion does not affect your blood pressure and is marketed under the brand names Wellbutrin and Zyban. This drug can also help you stop smoking, which is important to controlling hypertension. You may experience side effects such as headache, tiredness, nausea, vomiting and dry mouth after taking bupropion.
Seizure Medications as Weight Loss Pills
Some doctors also prescribe medications typically reserved for seizure treatment as weight loss drugs, notes the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Your doctor may prescribe metformin, topiramate or zonisamide if you have high blood pressure and need to lose weight without traditional appetite suppressants. Potential side effects include headache, tiredness, nausea and a metallic taste in your mouth.
References
- Weight-control Information Network; Prescription Medications for the Treatment of Obesity; December 2010
- PubMed Health; Orlistat; August 2010
- Mayo Clinic; Alli Weight-Loss Pill; June 2010
- PubMed Health; Phentermine; January 2011
- PubMed Health; Bupropion; October 2009
- PubMed Health; Hypertension; June 2011
