4 Ways to Prevent a Diet Pill Addiction

1. Skip the Diet Pill

One of the best ways to prevent a diet pill addiction is to avoid taking them altogether. Most experts agree that diet pills don't work for long-term results. Aside from addiction, diet pills cause side effects like headaches, depression, dizziness, diarrhea and vomiting. Diet pills with stimulants increase your risk for cardiovascular disease, including heart attack or stroke. The best way to lose weight is to change whatever habits are causing the excess weight. This may mean monitoring portion size, controlling emotional eating or increasing the amount or level of exercise you do.

2. Stick to the Recommended Amount

Whether you use prescription diet pills or over-the-counter brands, stick to the recommended dose. It's possible for your body to compensate for the diet pill, which makes you feel like you need to up the dose to keep the same results. Other people experience weight loss as long as they take the pill, but regain the weight as soon as they stop. Typically, addiction begins when you increase the dose beyond the recommended amount. Enlist a friend or relative to monitor your usage to ensure that you don't increase the dose or use the pill past the recommended time.

3. Know the Dangers of Diet Pills

Some diet pills like Fenphedra make users feel happy or euphoric. Other pills contain stimulants like caffeine and ephedrine, which work as addictive ingredients. Once these ingredients get into your system, you run the risk of becoming dependent on the diet pills to maintain your good mood or to provide your stimulant fix. Read the ingredients to see if they include stimulants that might prove addictive. Review safety ratings from consumer review websites. Be wary of websites that sell the products they recommend. Some websites make money from affiliate programs and their reviews may be little more than ads to push the product.

4. Work with a Dietitian or Physician

Most medical professionals believe you shouldn't take diet pills to lose weight unless you are extremely obese and your life is in jeopardy. If your doctor prescribes diet pills, keep follow-up appointments to monitor your situation. While taking the diet pills, work with your doctor or dietitian on a weight loss plan that will continue after you stop taking the diet pills. Talk with your doctor about the signs of addiction and ways to prevent it.