Are diet pills right for you?

Appetite suppressants have been one of the most popular prescription diet pills since 1959 when the FDA first approved them. Appetite suppressants suppress the appetite and increase chemicals in the brain that cause a 'full' feeling.

Should you take an Appetite Suppressant?

The decision to start taking an appetite suppressant should not be taken lightly. If you have ten pounds or less to shed, this is not the right course of action for you. However, if you have thirty or more pounds to lose, the potential health risks from being over weight far outweigh the potential side effects from weight loss medications. If you have BMI of 27 or more, appetite suppressants are definitely worth considering.

Potential Side Effects of Appetite Suppressants

When deciding if you should take a prescription medication, measuring the potential side effects is important. Appetite suppressants are no different. Similar to amphetamines, appetite suppressants have been known to cause insomnia, restlessness, nervousness and increased heart rate. And as so, this type of medication should not be taken by people that have heart disease or high blood pressure. Keep in mind that appetite suppressants are also controlled substance and while risks are low to moderate, dependency can occur.

How much Weight can you lose with Appetite Suppressants?

On average, most people typically lose approximately 5-10 percent of their current body weight while taking appetite suppressants. So, if you weight 200 pounds, you will lose about 10-20 pounds but keep in mind along with appetite suppressants you need to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Research shows that after six months, weight loss levels top off and appetite suppressants lose their effectiveness. Many times weight is regained after stopping the use of diet pills as they are only a short term solution. If you have changed your eating and exercising habits you have a far better chance of keeping the weight off and maintaining your new weight.

Diet pills - an aid not the answer to loosing weight

To get to the point, if your health is at risk due to being obese, talking to your doctor about taking a prescription appetite suppressant is worth considering. We cannot say it enough, don't fall into the hype and claims that taking a diet pill will help you to lose weight miraculously and quickly with little effort.

Diet pills are a short term solution and they can be effective in helping you to lose weight but it will be hard work. You will need to change your eating habits and start exercising along with taking medication. If you don't, you will quickly gain back the weight you worked so hard to lose when the pill stops working over time.

Types of Diet Pills

Diet pills and supplements come in many different forms: prescription diet pills, over-the-counter- diet pills and natural herbal supplements. Below we are going to go over them in more detail to help you make an informed decision.

Prescription Diet Pills - Pills such as Meridia and Phentermine are available by prescription from your doctor only. And they are regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). When taking prescription diet pills your Doctor will monitor your health and weight loss regularly and in most cases you will have to meet with him once a month to get a new prescription.

Over-the-Counter Diet Pills - Are available without a doctor's prescription at your local supermarket or drugstore. Most over-the-counter diet pills are also regulated by the FDA and it should say so right on the label. The FDA considers over-the-counter pills to be those that contain the active ingredient phenylpropanolamine (also known as PPA). In 2000, the FDA made it mandatory for drug manufacturers to reformulate PPA containing products after studies were showing evidence that phenylopropanolmine has the potential to increase the risk of stroke and therefore there are very few diet pills on the market with PPA.

Herbal Diet Supplements - Are also available over the counter with out a prescription. You can typically find a large variety of herbal pills in health food and nutrition stores as well as regular drugstores. Often, herbal supplements are labeled "all natural" and the FDA considers them to be food products and not drugs. In doing so they fall under the jurisdiction of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and they are therefore regulated differently then over-the-counter diet pills.

No matter the diet pill you chose to use you should first consult your doctor prior to starting your new diet. For your own health and safety you should be aware of the benefits along with the potential risks associated with the diet pill of your choice. All natural doesn't always mean "safe" or that it's good for you.