How Can These Drugs Be Availed?

Diet medicines are available in many forms. Prescription drugs can only be availed on a doctor’s prescription as they are carefully regulated by the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. They are useful for people who are obese or who have a history of high blood pressure or diabetes. Some over-the-counter diet drugs are also available without a doctor’s prescription although they too are regulated by the FDA. Herbal or natural diet pills can be found in health and nutrition stores and can be availed without prescription. These pills use ingredients such as psyllium and glucomannan for giving a feeling of fullness, herbal ephedra and caffeine for increasing metabolism and Chitosan, which is found in the exoskeleton of shrimps for preventing fat from being absorbed. They are governed by the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

Side-effects Of Diet Pills

The side-effects associated with diet pills vary depending upon the ingredients used in their formulation. Fat blocking pills can cause uncomfortable cramping, gas and diarrhea as they remove excess fat through the intestine. They also reduce the absorption of essential vitamins and nutrients by the body. Appetite suppressants, on the other hand, stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and hence lead to an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Besides this, other side-effects also include constipation, headache and insomnia. Herbal diet pills too can have dangerous side-effects and should not be considered as totally safe.

An important question is whether these diet pills actually work. It should be kept in mind that every person’s body chemistry and genetic history are different. So these pills may work for a few while they may not for others. Hence one should avoid considering them as a long-term option for weight loss.

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