Diet Pills - A Risky Idea
Author Name: Jeff Dedrick, Thu Dec 8th
I wish I had a nickel for every weight loss aid and pill on themarket. You and I could both retire. Many of these have beenassociated with serious medical risks, including heart attack,heart abnormalities, tachycardia, stroke, seizures and death.That’s pretty scary!
Most diet pills are appetite suppressants of one kind oranother, generally stimulants with effects similar to those ofamphetamine. They’re okayed for treatment of obesity, where it’sconsidered that the health risks associated with obesityoutweigh the risks of the medication.
But is you have less than 30 pounds to lose, the risks are farless cut-and-dried. Over the counter medications and their risksare not as well-documented as the effects of prescription dietpills. Herbal preparation effects are documented even less,especially those whose makers don’t officially make weight lossclaims.
Here’s part of the problem. As long as they don’t contain a’new’ ingredient, or one that has never been marketed for weightloss purposes, weight-loss aids are not subject to FDA review.Instead, the manufacturer is held responsible for the safety andeffectiveness of their products. So a lot of times that meansunregulated dosages, unhealthy additives and ineffectiveingredients.
Hopefully, one day all over the counter medications and herbalpreparations marketed as weight loss supplements will be labeledand tested by impartial researchers. Until then, there are somethings that you can do to lessen diet pill risks.
Research thoroughly. There’s a lot of information out thereabout drugs and herbs like ephedra, ephinedrine, phentermine andsibutramine. Know what you’re taking and what the risks are sothat you can watch for side effects.
Always talk to your doctor before you start taking any drug orherbal supplement. Yes, I know you’ve heard this a thousandtimes, but there are good reasons for the advice! Some productsinteract poorly with other medications, or have an adverseeffect on chronic conditions.
Follow dosage instructions. Overdoses of stimulant medications,which are a component of most weight loss preparations, can beserious and severe.
Don’t take any weight loss pill or supplement for more than afew weeks unless a doctor has prescribed it.
Ask your pharmacist when purchasing over the counter weight losspreparations to be sure that the ingredients don’t interact withother medications you may be taking. Include both prescriptionand nonprescription medications in your questions.
There are much more healthy and effective ways to lose weightthan taking pills. The potential of serious health problemsremains. It’s an awful lot of risk for a little weight loss.
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