What Diet Pills Actually Work for Weight Loss?

By Travis Van Slooten in Weight Loss on April 20th, 2008

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by Reagyn Miers

When it comes weight loss, the million dollar question has always been, what diet pills really work? No one wants to waste their money, time and hopes on a pill that is ineffective. The good news is some diet pills may really work - to some degree. However, caution should be taken. Always consult with your doctor and make diet and exercise the cornerstone of your weight loss program - not the pills themselves.

The diet pills available today may be safer than diet pills in the past, that doesn’t mean they are safe and effective for every individual. Each diet pill is different and each comes with its own set of side effects. You should talk in depth with your physician about any diet pill or supplement you are considering taking. Here is a list of some of the more popular diet pills today and the pertinent information about each.

Meridia (sibutramine)

Meridia works on the brain’s appetite-control center and alters the chemicals norepinephrine and serotonin. These chemical regulate how full a person feels after eating. Meridia is available by prescription only and it intended for very overweight or obese individuals.

This drug is only used by people who are very overweight or obese. It is not prescribed to someone who thinks that five or ten pounds is a problem! This drug is for the individual who needs to lose some serious weight and who wants an aid that will help do away with that ravenous hunger feeling.

Before you start taking Meridia you should know that it can increase your blood pressure and it can also up your risk of having a stroke or heart attack. You should also know that the FDA is closely monitoring Meridia ever since it was banned in Italy for causing adverse reactions in consumers.

Byetta (exenatide) and Glucophage (metformin)

Byetta and Glucophage are diabetic drugs use to treat individuals with type 2 diabetes. These drugs are used to manage blood sugar levels. Glucophage is given orally while Byetta is an injectable medication.

If you are a type 2 diabetic, or if you suffer from hormonal conditions that are linked to insulin resistance, your doctor may prescribe Byetta or Glucophage to help you lose weight. Unlike other weight loss drugs, insurance companies will more than likely pick up the tab on these medications as they are classified as “diabetic medications.”

Zimulti (rimonabant)

One of the shining stars in the weight loss industry is Zimulti but you won’t find it in the United States because at the time of this writing, it hasn’t been approved by the FDA. The FDA has been reluctant to approve it because is has shown to increase the risk of suicidal thoughts. You can find it, however, in the European Union under the name Acomplia.

Alli (orlistat)

Alli is a weight loss supplement available over-the-counter. It is a reduced-strength version of Orlistat, a prescription drug used to treat obesity. It decreases the amount of fat you ingest from being absorbed by the intestines. The undigested fat is excreted from the body in the bowel. By decreasing fat absorption, you decrease the amount of calories you absorb.

There is a drawback to Alli that consumers should know about. If you eat too much fat you may soil or leak on yourself. These kinds of accidents can be embarrassing, so be forewarned. These occurrences can be prevented, however, by limiting the amount of fat you consumer per meal.

Supplements

Don’t take any diet supplements until you know what you are consuming. There are some supplements, such as bitter orange extract, whose safety is being questioned. Bitter orange extract is often used as a replacement to ephedra. Ephedra was banned in the United States because it caused strokes and deaths-and a myriad of adverse reactions in consumers.

Two supplements which seem safe and may aid in weight loss are hoodia gordonii and green tea extract. Hoodia is a natural appetite suppressant that has virtually no side effects. Green tea contains EGCG, an antioxidant that may help boost metabolism, according to some studies.

What diet pills actually work for weight loss? As you can see, it depends on your situation and how you react to some of these drugs and supplements. What works great for one person may not work for you. Supplements may seem safer, but that is not always the case. The best solution for weight loss is diet and exercise. If you feel diet pills and supplements are necessary, then only look to them as a short-term aid and be sure to talk to your doctor first before taking them!

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