The truth about diet pills may not be well known to many people. Often times, people looking for a fast way to lose weight think pills are the way to avoid healthy eating and exercise. The truth, however, is that there is no quick cure for weight loss on an extended level; you may lose those 10 pounds fast, but you are likely to gain it back within a month.
Diet pills are meant to help those with serious weight problems such as obesity and should not replace a healthy diet and exercise. You should always consult a doctor before taking any kind of diet pill. Additionally, your doctor should prescribe the right kind of pill for you according to your specific needs. Also, you should regularly return to your doctor for checkups to make sure the pills are working and to verify you are not experiencing any side effects. And remember: any dieting pill is a short term aid to weight control.
As with almost any other kind of medication or drug, dieting pills have their own side effects as well. Side effects will vary from person to person based on the individual’s health, eating habits, lifestyle, etc. Additionally, the side effects will vary with the type of diet pills, whether the individual is taking other kinds of diet pills, and the length of time the individual takes the drug. Side effects can be painful, unpleasant, and even life-threatening if you are not careful.
To reiterate, consult a doctor before taking any kind of dieting pills. Because of the multitude of over-the-counter pills available on the market, many people just start taking whatever sounds good to them, with little or no knowledge of possible side effects. Many of these drugs are useless, harmful or both. Minimize your risk for side effects by seeking the opinion of a professional.
Some of the most common side effects of dieting pills – caused by both over-the-counters and prescriptions - are listed below:
- Nervousness
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- High blood pressure
- Fatigue and hyperactivity
- Heart arrhythmias and palpitations
- Congestive heart failure or heart attack
- Stroke
- Headaches
- Dry mouth
- Vomiting and diarrhea or constipation
- Intestinal disturbances
- Tightness in chest
- Tingling in extremities
- Excessive perspiration
- Dizziness
- Disruption in menstrual cycle
- Change in libido
- Hair loss
- Blurred vision
- Fever
- Urinary tract problems
Dieting pill overdoses can cause tremors, confusion, hallucinations, shallow breathing, renal failure, heart attacks, and convulsions. Also, over-the-counter dieting pills can possibly invoke even more serious side effects due to the lax in regulations for labeling and dosage. Herbal dieting pills also play a part in side effects as well, especially since people tend to take more than the recommended dosage in order to speed up weight loss.
Almost no long-term studies of diet and weight loss pills have been conducted. The little research we have shows risks for certain dieting pills will only increase the longer the drugs are used.
By Monica Drusch