Side Effect of Weight Loss Medications |
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Weight-loss medications have recently become a popular trend in our country. All of us would agree that taking a pill that would encourage weight loss is the ideal. Who wouldn't want to try it? Even if you want to believe that this is the newest trend in weight loss, people have been taking medications for years in hopes of dropping weight. The old "diet pills" that doctors used to give out some forty to fifty years ago primarily contained amphetamines, were highly addictive, and led to adverse effects on the heart and nervous system. These compounds are no longer recommended for use in obesity treatment. Other medications we might be familiar with are easily purchased over the counter at the drugstore and are mostly known to decrease the appetite. Common Side EffectsCommon side effects of weight-loss medications may include the following:
Diet drugs and medications are not intended for overweight and marginally obese people. The harmful effects of long-term use of these drugs and medications can outweigh the health benefits of losing weight. |
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Recent Medication Developments In recent years, various medications have been released to the public to help lose extreme amounts of weight. These products were promoted as a new type of appetite suppressant. Over the period of several years, millions of prescriptions were written, primarily to overweight women seeking quick weight-loss results. Various side effects and health concerns associated with some medications later caused them to be removed from the market. But due to consumer interest in such products, the market was wide open for new medications. As a result, manufacturers, weight-loss professionals and others began promoting and releasing new prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal remedies to promote weight loss. Although many more new products have since been released, and although people are more skeptical of product safety there is still no lack of consumer interest in purchasing new options. People continue to line up to try the latest medication in hopes of dropping those extra, unnecessary pounds. Products like appetite suppressants used to decrease appetite and increase satiety (the feeling of fullness) and products used to block absorption of fat and even starches can be found in abundance. But none of these products is marketed to work alone. People forget that along with taking these "pills," instructions also state the importance of making lifestyle changes by decreasing total food intake and increasing activity levels. Maybe this helps some people get started, maybe not. Primarily prescription medications were promoted to the severely obese. Even with their so-called side effects, these medications were believed by experts to be less of a health risk than being seriously obese. As time went on, more and more prescriptions were being written for cosmetic reasons and for many people who were less than severely obese. People need to realize that these drugs are powerful. They can be harmful if not used properly. Appetite-suppressant medications can be harmful and should be used only by patients who are at increased risk of medical problems because of obesity and not for cosmetic reasons to lose weight. With use of these medications, pounds will be lost. But pounds will stay off only as long as the plan is continued. Once medications stop and old lifestyle habits return, pounds are regained. Medications serve again as only a temporary solution. Weight-Loss MedicationBeware of the following weight-loss medications and products. The Food and Drug Administration has banned many of these products since they've hit the market.
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