With weight loss being on the minds of the majority of American adults today, a variety of prescription diet pills are being marketed to those needing to lose significant amounts of weight.The most common prescription diet pills include phentermine products (Adipex-P, Fastin, Ionamin, Obenix), Xenical, and Meridia.
Drugs that are available only by prescription require an individual to meet with a physician before being prescribed the requested medication, though some websites offer prescription only pills under the direction of a physician employed by the marketers of the website, or the pills come from outside the United States.
Prescription diet pills are used to treat obesity, which occurs today in almost one third of Americans, with over 65 percent of Americans being classified as “overweight.”A determination of obesity is reached when an individual is more than twenty percent over ideal body weight.
While proper diet and regular exercise are crucial when losing weight or to maintain a desired weight, many people find that diet and exercise alone are not enough to help them start losing or to reach a desired weight loss goal.For these individuals it may be time for them to speak to their doctors about obtaining a prescription diet pill.
Phentermine:
Phentermine is a “rising star” amid the many weight loss medications available today.Phentermine is the generic name for the drug Oral Phentermine Hydrochloride, or HCL, found in the brand names Apidex-P, Fastin, Ionamin, and Obenix.Available in a variety of forms and dosages, phentermine is prescribed for short-term management of obesity.It is designed to help suppress appetite by stimulating the hypothalamus gland, which is part of the region of the brain that controls appetite. When used with a proper diet and regular physical exercise it may help an individual lose weight while trying to establish a healthy long term lifestyle.
Side effects of phentermine include: dry mouth; constipation or diarrhea; unpleasant taste; hives; changes in sexual desire or impotence; increased heart rate and palpitations; insomnia; over stimulation; dizziness; tremor; and high blood pressure.
Xenical:
Xenical is another common prescription diet pill used today.Xenical works differently with the body than many weight loss medications that only focus on appetite suppression and metabolism because it works with your body to block up to one-third of the fat from foods you eat from being digested and entering your system.
Lipases, which are enzymes in the digestive system, help break down fat in the body.When Xenical is taken with meals it attaches to the lipases and blocks them from breaking down a portion of the fat that you have eaten.Since the fat is blocked from being absorbed, it is passed from your body with other waste from the digestive tract.Xenical works best when combined with a diet where less than 30% of all calories consumed come from fats.
Side effects of Xenical include: oily or fatty stools, oily discharge, increased need to relieve bowels, and flatulence with discharge.Because Xenical works with the digestive system, most side effects relate directly to the amount of fat intake from your diet.
Meridia:
Meridia is a prescription diet pill for those needing to lose at least 30 pounds, depending on height.For best results, Meridia must be combined with a reduced-calorie diet, but it should not be used by people who suffer from bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa.People who take MAOI’s or who are taking other weight loss medications should also avoid using Meridia.
Meridia works to help you lose weight by suppressing appetite in a way similar to phentermine and is considered a controlled substance.Since you can become physically or psychologically dependent on Meridia, it is important that you use it only under the close supervision of your doctor.
Common side effects of Meridia include: headache, anorexia, constipation, dry mouth, and insomnia.It should be used cautiously and under close supervision of a doctor in patients with hypertension, severe liver or kidney disease, and a history of heart disease or stroke.
Remember that it is not safe to take any prescription diet pills while pregnant or breastfeeding.Consult your doctor as to the side effects or potential risks associated with any medication before starting treatment.