5 Ways to Pick an Appetite Suppressing Diet Pill

1. Not a Quick Fix

With most diet pills, appetite suppressants or otherwise, weight loss is minimal. At most you can expect to lose 5 to 10 percent of your body weight in a year with prescription medications. These gains only happen in combination with a low calorie, low fat diet and regular exercise. While the weight loss is minimal the loss of the extra weight can still reduce your blood pressure, insulin levels and blood glucose levels.

2. Get a Prescription Appetite Suppressants

Appetite suppressants aren't for everybody. They are specifically designed for people who can't seem to lose weight through diet and exercise alone and are having medical complications because of the excess weight. Your doctor will consult with you before he will prescribe you a weight loss medication. If your BMI is higher than 30 you may be a good candidate. If other weight loss methods haven't worked, then your doctor may determine a prescription is the best route. Also, if your BMI is higher than 27 and you're experiencing health problems because of the added weight, then a prescription appetite suppressant could be the answer.

3. Over the Counter Appetite Suppressants

Over the counter appetite suppressants don't have FDA approval. In addition, clinical trials are scarce, so there's no proof or oversight to see if they will be effective. Plus, they may not even be safe for use at all. There's not even a guarantee that the ingredients printed on the box are what you actually find in the pills. You should consult your doctor before using any over the counter weight loss suppressant. Your doctor will be able to tell you which one might work best for you.

4. Let Side Effects Weigh in

When choosing an appetite suppressant know the side effects of the medication you're choosing. Knowing the side effects of various medications will enable you to make a more informed choice on whether a drug is the one you want to use to help manage your weight loss. Common side effects of appetite suppressants include constipation, insomnia, headache, dry mouth and increased blood pressure.

5. You Have to Stop Sometime

Once you start taking any diet pills, including appetite suppressants, you will likely have to keep taking them indefinitely. Whatever weight you lose while taking appetite suppressants, you are likely to gain back once you stop taking the pills. Some dieters continue taking them past the amount of time safely prescribed for their use. Since the drugs are only slated for short term use, there aren't any long term studies showing the side effects of taking them for longer than a year.