If diet and exercise are ineffective alone, anti-obesity drugs are a choice for some people. Some prescription weight loss drugs are stimulants, which are recommended only for short-term use, and thus are of limited usefulness for extremely obese patients, who may need to reduce weight over months or years. Anti-obesity drugs operate through one or more of the following mechanisms:
Suppression of the appetite.
Epilepsy medications and catecholamines and their derivatives (such as amphetamine-based drugs) are the main tools used for this. Drugs blocking the cannabinoid receptors may be a future strategy for appetite suppression.
Increase of the body's metabolism.
Interference with the body's ability to absorb specific nutrients in food. For example, Orlistat (also known as Xenical and Allī) blocks fat breakdown and thereby prevents fat absorption. The OTC fiber supplements glucomannan and guar gum have been used for the purpose of inhibiting digestion and lowering caloric absorption
Anorectics (also known as anorexigenics) are primarily intended to suppress the appetite, but most of the drugs in this class also act as stimulants (dexedrine, e.g.), and patients have abused drugs "off label" to suppress appetite (e.g. digoxin).
Available anti-obesity drugs
Orlistat
Orlistat (Xenical) reduces intestinal fat absorption by inhibiting pancreatic lipase. Originally available only by prescription, it was approved by the FDA for over-the-counter sale in February 2007. [1] Orlistat may cause frequent, oily bowel movements (steatorrhea), but if fat in the diet is reduced, symptoms often improve.
Sibutramine
Sibutramine (Reductil or Meridia) is an anorectic or appetite suppressant, reducing the desire to eat. Both drugs have side effects. Sibutramine may increase blood pressure and may cause dry mouth, constipation, headache, and insomnia.
Metformin
In people with Diabetes mellitus type 2, the drug metformin (Glucophage) can reduce weight.[3]
Byetta
Byetta (Exenatide) is a long-acting analogue of the hormone GLP-1, which the intestines secrete in response to the presence of food. Among other effects, GLP-1 delays gastric emptying and promotes a feeling of satiety. Some obese people are deficient in GLP-1, and dieting reduces GLP-1 further. Byetta is currently available as a treatment for Diabetes mellitus type 2. Some, but not all, patients find that they lose substantial weight when taking Byetta. Drawbacks of Byetta include that it must be injected twice daily, and that it causes severe nausea in some patients, especially when therapy is initiated. Byetta is recommended only for patients with Type 2 Diabetes. A somewhat similar drug, Symlin, is currently available for treating diabetes and is in testing for treating obesity in non-diabetics.
Symlin
Symlin (Pramlintide) is a synthetic analogue of the hormone Amylin, which in normal people is secreted by the pancreas in response to eating. Among other effects, Amylin delays gastric emptying and promotes a feeling of satiety. Many diabetics are deficient in Amylin. Currently, Symlin is only approved to be used along with insulin by Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics. However, Symlin is currently being tested in non-diabetics as a treatment for obesity. A drawback is that Symlin must be injected at mealtimes.
Rimonabant
Recent pharmaceutical research has produced potential obesity combating drugs. The discovery of cannabinoid receptors in the brain, liver and muscle has stimulated research in a new class of drugs, namely cannabinoid (CB1) receptor antagonists. These drugs not only causes weight loss, but prevent or reverse the metabolic effects of obesity, such as insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia, and may also decrease the tendency to abuse substances such as alcohol and tobacco.
Sanofi-Aventis has received approval to market Rimonabant as a prescription anti-obesity drug in the European Union, subject to some restrictions. Due to safety concerns, the drug has not received approval in the United States, either as an anti-obesity treatment or as a smoking-cessation drug. Merck has a CB1 inverse agonist, taranabant (codenamed MK-0364), in Phase IIb/III development for which it hopes to file a New Drug Application in 2008
Other drugs
Other weight loss drugs have also been associated with medical complications, such as fatal pulmonary hypertension and heart valve damage due to Redux and Fen-phen, and hemorrhagic stroke due phenylpropanolamine. Many of these substances are related to amphetamine.
Unresearched nonprescription products or programs for weight loss are heavily promoted by mail and print advertising and on the internet. The US Food and Drug Administration recommends caution with use of these products, since many of the claims of safety and effectiveness are unsubstantiated. Individuals with anorexia nervosa and some athletes try to control body weight with laxatives, diet pills or diuretic drugs, although these generally have no impact on body fat. Products that work as a laxative can cause the blood's potassium level to drop, which may cause heart and/or muscle problems. Pyruvate is a popular product that may result in a small amount of weight loss. However, pyruvate, which is found in red apples, cheese, and red wine, has not been thoroughly studied and its weight loss potential has not been scientifically established.
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Natural Weight Loss Pills
Obesity is now a growing concern for many people worldwide. If you are obese, you are likely to experience the health risks that go with this condition such as hypertension. That is why it does make sense that you start losing weight as early as possible. But losing weight is never easy. You have to carefully select a weight loss program that will work for you like taking natural weight loss pills.
Natural Weight Loss Pills vs. Prescription Weight Loss Pills
If you want to lose weight the natural way, then you better choose natural weight loss pills over the prescription weight loss pills. Although prescription weight loss pills are proven effective, some of these are blamed to have several side effects. These pills are found to be habit forming and some people experience dizziness, diarrhea, blurred vision, and an upset digestive system after taking these pills. That is why most people nowadays are more aware of the importance of good health and doing things the natural way.
Choosing your Natural Weight Loss Pills
So, before you choose one, you have to know exactly what you want out of your natural weight loss pills. Do you want your appetite to be suppressed? Do you want a pill that eats up excess glucose in your system after you eat? Or do you want pills that help eliminate toxins from your body? Whatever you want, you can find the appropriate natural weight loss pills that can help you achieve your weight loss goal.
Losing weight may not be an easy task. But with the right natural weight loss pills at hand, you can achieve your goal without having to worry about side effects. Losing weight the natural way is really a good option. But it is still best if you combine this with a balanced diet and regular exercise.
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Weight Loss Diet Pills
Diet pills are a very alluring option for someone who has many failed diets under their belt. Moreover, commercials promoting weight loss pills always promise fast and easy weight loss. It is important to know that many diet pills and weight loss aids are counterfeit. Americans spend an obscene amount of money on weight loss products, especially weight loss pills. “According to Fat -- Exploding the myths, by Lisa Colles, Americans reportedly spend between $30 and 50 billion annually on diets, weight loss programs and products. A whopping $6 billion is spent on weight loss pills and products that are not genuine.
There are many different types of diet pills that can be broadly classified into the following types:
Prescription diet pills: These pills are primarily created for those suffering from debilitating obesity. Weight loss pills are not a mock solution for the problem, nor are they proposed as replacement for the conventional weight loss and management methods such as exercise and diet. When traditional weight loss techniques fail to produce the desired results, most people lose motivation and faith in the process. As a result they turn to quick fix answers like diet pills. The pills that are prescribed are only given for certain conditions and in certain dosages. Furthermore, their side effects have to be closely watched.
Over the counter weight loss pills: The weight loss industry is already cashing in on the average American’s insecurities surrounding body image and a certain definition of beauty based on how skinny you can be. This further fuels the diet industry’s success. They make diet drugs and call them food supplements and these so called "supplements" are largely unregulated. They are not subjected to stringent testing by federal authorities nor are labeling requirements enforced, as in the case of prescription weight loss pills. Moral of the story: if weight loss diet pills are your only recourse, better see a doctor before you take them rather than after.
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