Billions of dollars are being spent on diet drugs and advertising, as researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and consumers are looking for a way to combat the obesity rate on a global level.
Recent studies have shown that Americans spend nearly 40 billion dollars on diet drugs and supplements over the course of a year. As more people begin to use diet pills, whether they are prescriptions or just OTC supplements, greater numbers of side effects are being reported that range from dry mouth, to more severe problems even resulting in death.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been making the public aware of health concerns associated with certain types of diet drugs. However, increasing numbers of people looking to lose weight fast are being drawn to diet drugs that promise to produce immediate results and only appear to be safe. What consumers aren’t aware of is that some diet pills aren’t what they seem. There are more potentially dangerous diet pills being developed and purchased by consumers than there are prescription diet pills that have been approved by the FDA.
Which leads us to an important question: are diet pills safe?
Are Diet Pills Safe? Or Should They Be Avoided?
The difference between the safety of FDA approved diet pills and non-approved diet supplements is vast.
- Diet pills that have been approved by the FDA have undergone a rigorous series of tests and clinical trials to determine effectiveness, and to identify potentially harmful side effects.
- The FDA is responsible for determining whether or not the benefits of a drug outweigh the risks, and if the drug is safe for consumption.
- Drugs tested by the FDA are labeled with all of the ingredients that the drug is comprised of, along with documentation of both mild and severe side effects.
- Unfortunately, some diet supplements do not always list all of the ingredients on packaging. And, due to a lack of clinical trials, not all side effects are always discovered, or they are not properly reported.
- Many diet supplements, specifically those manufactured in China, are placed on the market illegally and contain banned substances like sibutramine and N-nitroso fenfluramine, which have contributed to a series of deaths.
- Diet pills that have appeared on the FDA warning list include: Zhen de Shou, Imelda Perfect Slim, 2 Day Diet, Japan Lingzhi 24 Hour Diet, 3 Day Diet, Herbal Slim, Miaozi Slim, GMP, Superslim, Fruta Planta, Slim Express 360, Slimtech, Somotrin, Triple Slim, and dozens of others.
Are Diet Pills Safe When Given as a Prescription?
Although no diet pills, whether they are FDA approved or not, are 100% safe and side effect free, there are a number of diet pills that are currently approved and distributed by physicians as prescriptions.
Prescription diet pills are generally administered to patients who are classified as obese, being 30 pounds or more over their recommended weight. Also, people with a BMI over 30, or who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure or diabetes, should consult their physician if they are interested in achieving weight loss by means of a prescription diet pill.
The good news is that, if you are hoping to begin using diet pills, prescription diet pills have been shown to help people lose around 5% of their body weight over a two-month period. This might not seem like much, but, according to NIH, losing 5-10% of your starting weight might help lower your triglycerides, blood pressure, and blood sugar.
These pills are meant to be used for short periods of time, though. It is recommended that individuals who begin a prescription weight loss regimen also learn new eating habits and exercise routines for long-term weight loss. People who use prescription weight loss drugs for extended periods of time can suffer severe side effects, become addicted, and develop a tolerance.
The majority of prescription diet pills fall into two categories, depending on their ingredients and the way in which they work to initiate weight loss. For instance, prescriptions like Xenical, inhibit fat absorption, while Meridia, Phentermine, Adipex-P, Fastin, and Tenuate are considered appetite suppressants.
The most common side effects of these prescription diet pills include an increase in blood pressure, rapid or irregular heart rate, constipation, dry mouth, and, in some cases, anxiety, an inability to sleep, irregular bowel movements, bowel leakage, diarrhea, gas, and stomach irritation or cramping.
Are Diet Pills Safe When They’re Non-Prescription?
In addition to prescription diet pills, there are also weight management supplements that you can purchase over the counter. How can you know if they are safe to take? Well, you can look for the following in order to rest assured that you are likely purchasing a higher quality product that you can trust.
- Are the pills manufactured in the United States? This can give you assurance that the product is manufactured to higher standards with pure ingredients.
- How long has the manufacturer been around? What do you know about them? The more you can find out about a manufacturer and their trustworthiness, the better.
- Is the manufacturer’s customer service team easy to reach? You always want to rest easy knowing that you can contact someone for support when you have concerns, complaints, or questions.
- What have customers said about the products after they tried and reviewed them? If the product has received a lot of positive reviews, that’s a good sign.
- Do the products contain ingredients that have been clinically studied or scientifically researched? You always want to go with a product that contains ingredients that have been proven to work the way that they should.
- Does the product make claims that sound too good to be true? For example, does a diet pill claim to help you shed pounds without you having to change your diet and exercise routine? If so, this is likely a false claim that should not be trusted.
Consider an Adipex Alternative as an Option When Others Aren’t Right
When it comes to the many different weight loss products that are on the market today, you have so many options that it can quickly become overwhelming. How can you possibly sort through all of these options to find the one that is truly right for you? Well, one way that you can do that is by talking to your doctor about an Adipex alternative that you can try in order to see if it can provide you with the weight loss support that you need to succeed.
Why an Adipex alternative, in particular? Adipex is one of the most popular and well-known prescription diet pills available. Many people have already used it to slim down, so a lot of people want to try it for themselves to see if it can help them meet their target weight. Unfortunately, it can cause side effects, and it is not right for everyone. So, if you are not the right type of patient for a prescription diet pill, an Adipex alternative might be the best option.
No matter what, keep the following in mind as you search for a non-prescription diet pill: weight management supplements that provide you with greater amounts of physical energy and mental focus might be just what you need when you are in search of a product that will support your weight loss efforts. A few great examples include FENFAST 375, PHENBLUE, 3G BURN, and TRIMTHIN X700.
Ask Your Doctor: Are Diet Pills Safe?
When it comes to answering the question, are diet pills safe, there are several things that you need to consider, whether you are looking at a prescription diet pill or a weight management supplement that you can purchase over the counter. According to Mayo Clinic, it’s a good idea to involve your doctor. With the help of your doctor, you can gain valuable insight into what would be the right path for you to take for your weight loss needs.
