Every dieter's dream is to find a pill that makes food cravings disappear. But according to the nonprofit Consumers Union, no prescription or over-the-counter diet drug has been consistently shown to help people shed weight safely.
Of the many types of appetite suppressant drugs available, however, the safest options are prescription drugs, such as Meridia (sibutramine), because they are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Many over-the-counter drugs are not regulated and are more likely to be ineffective or have serious side-effects.
Meridia
One appetite suppressant available via prescription is Meridia (sibutramine), which calms the part of the brain responsible for causing hunger. Some studies suggest that Meridia can help people on low-fat diets lose more weight and keep weight off. However, Meridia can also elevate blood pressure and heart rate, so it may not be suitable for people with heart disease.
Adipex-P and Lonamin
Adipex-P and Ionamin (phentermine) are also prescription appetite suppressants. According to a 1984 study published in the "Archives of Internal Medicine" by Michael Weintraub, Jeffrey D. Hasday, Alvin I. Mushlin and Dean H. Lockwood, obese subjects taking phentermine lost an average of 10 kg (22 lbs.) over the course of 24 weeks. However, these drugs can also cause serious side-effects, including nervousness and irritability. These drugs are no longer marketed in Europe due to possible links to heart and lung disease.
Drugs to avoid
Many over-the-counter appetite suppressants have not been shown to be effective and may even be unsafe. In 2007, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission fined the makers of some diet pills for false advertising. These included the manufacturers of Xenadrine EFX, TrimSpa, CortiSlim and One-A-Day Weight Smart. And, in March 2009, the U.S. FDA warned consumers about 72 types of over-the-counter diet pills. These included Extrim Plus, Slim Express, Royal Slimming Formula, Super Fat Burner, 7 Day Herbal Slim and Perfect Slim. All had been tainted with additional undeclared ingredients, some of which could cause stroke and seizures.
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