Weight Loss Drugs
There are prescription drugs that claim to help you lose weight, also many herbal remedies, plus over-the-counter drugs. Are they fact or fiction? Decide for yourself.
With so many over-weight people who want to lose weight there are lots of medications and health-food-store-supplements on the market and it is huge money making business but just how well do these drugs and herbs work, and how safe are they? Here is the low-down on a few of the most popular ones
Xenical
Xenical is a prescription drug that is a fat blocker and has been used in the U.S. for eight years. It is recommended for those with 30 or more pounds to lose who have risk factors such as diabetes or heart disease. It works in the intestines to block the fat. It will cause oily stools, diarrhea, gas, and “accidents.”
Meridia (sibutramine)
Meridia is a prescription drug recommended for those who need to lose 30 pounds or more who have risk factors such as diabetes and heart disease. It targets the brain where it alters levels of the hormones serotonin and norepinephrine to help you feel full. Meridia increases heart rate and blood pressure so it requires regular doctors’ check-ups.
Alli
Alli is the same as Xenical except Alli is half the dose of Xenical. Taken at meal time Alli works by preventing 25% of the fat you eat from being absorbed. If you are on a 1800 calorie low fat diet it will be like cutting 135 calories a day. If you want real results you will still have to do most of the work. It will give you a little extra nudge but you will have to cut the calories and fat to lose a substantial amount of weight. It blocks calories from fat not from carbs or protein. If you eat a lot of carbs and protein it will not help you at all.
Xenical and Alli also have side-effects. If you eat more than 30% of fat it will pop you with diarrhea, oily stools and gas, also “accidents.” It’s a tool, not a solution,” says Roberta Anding, R.D, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Alli is sold over the counter for about $60.00.
Health Food Store Supplements
Bitter Orange
Claims: Bitter orange decreases appetite.
Fact: It contains the same stimulate as ephedra, which has been linked to heart problems such as stroke and heart attacks.
Chromium
Claims: reduces body fat, decreases appetite and builds muscle.
Fact: It can cause kidney failure if taken in large doses. It’s unlikely to build muscle
Hoodia
Claims: decreases appetite.
Fact: No evidence has been found to support the claim.
Country Mallow (heartleaf)
Claims: decreases appetite and increases number of calories burned.
Fact: Contains ephedrine, which raises both heart beat and blood pressure to unsafe levels.
Liked it
R J Evans | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
Interesting and informative – as all your work is!
Glynis Smy | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
I ditto RJ Evans, this is a good article
Unofre Pili | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
Very valuable pieces of information.
lanne | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
Good to know. Thanks Ruby
Gerlaine | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
I am like Lanne, good to know. I am not a big fan of weight loss drugs. Just good nutrition and light exercise. ~g
Juancav | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
Loss weight with medical drugs prescription? no,thank you ,What about side effects,to discover in the future?
Very interesting article.
Mark Gordon Brown | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
My wife and I are naturally thin, I really don’t understand why people need so many drugs when they can simply not eat so much. If you get yourself into a corner by eating too much, dont expect drugs to be your rescue. Stay away from buffets!
B Nelson | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
its best to avoid drugs when ever possible sometimes the side effects are nasty
valli | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
Very useful info.
Donna Marie | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
Excellent! Those who are obese cannot find a “quick-fix” pill to lose what took years to gain. They need to spend the time learning what and how to eat instead of spending money on useless drugs. As you well know, exercise is part of living well. Even mild exercise is beneficial if one is eating properly. Thanks for such an informative article.
nobert soloria bermosa | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
i’ve heard some of them but losing weight the natural is still the best,thanks Ruby,as always a very informative article,
Judy Sheldon | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
A good diet and exercise are the best choices. Healthy living pays off in the long run. Thanks for the research. I hope your heads up will help someon in the long run.
Alexa Gates | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
I don’t think i’ll be trying any diet pills any time soon
Very informative 
Ruby Hawk | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
Thanks to you all for your time and your interest. I think we are all a sensible group here. I am also apalled at all the drugs out there for almost everything. Mark is absolutely right. If you eat too much and gain weight, then stop eating too much. Just keep it simple.
Love Lace | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
Very Interesting.
Darlene McFarlane | Aug 26, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for the information, Ruby. I agree with Judy on this one. The best way to lose weight is the good old fashioned way. Proper diet and exercise and maybe a little help from ACV and water.
Great article.
Moses Ingram | Aug 26, 2008 | Reply
Great article and good information. I need to lose 25 to 30 pounds, but have never taken any kind of drugs, prescription or otherwise because I don’t trust them. What you say here seems to prove that I’ve been right in my thinking. I’m slowing losing the weight by eating less and walking every day.
Ruby Hawk | Aug 28, 2008 | Reply
Thanks again to you all for supporting me in my writing endeavors. I appreciate you all more than you know.
Moses, good luck to you in your weight loss plan. I overdo it sometimes myself and have to cut back. Right now with the medical diet I am on I don’t have that worry, more’s the pity.
Amos | Aug 29, 2008 | Reply
This is uselful information that people who are trying to lose weight will appreciate. If we pushed back from the table a little sooner and moved our butts we wouldn’t have to worry about being fat. Thats my opinion and I’m sticking to it.
Harold | Sep 7, 2008 | Reply
I’m with Amos on this one. Eat to live, don’t live to eat.