Weight Loss Drugs (cont.)
Jim Morelli, MS, RPh
Jim Morelli holds a B.S. from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health in Boston and an M.S. in civil engineering from Tufts University. He is registered as a pharmacist in the state of Georgia.
Louise Chang, MD
Dr. Chang completed her undergraduate degree at Stanford University and attended medical school at New York Medical College. She completed her internal medicine residency at Saint Vincent's Hospital in New York City, where she also served as a chief resident from 2001-2002. Dr. Chang is board-certified in internal medicine.
In this Article
- What are weight loss drugs and how do they work?
- Who is a good candidate for weight loss drugs?
- What are the different types of weight loss drugs?
- What are the side effects of weight loss drugs?
- What are the warnings with weight loss drugs?
- What are the drug interactions with weight loss drugs?
- What are some examples of weight loss drugs?
- What are OTC diet pills?
- What do I need to know about OTC diet supplements?
- Here are some common ingredients seen in OTC diet supplements:
What are the different types of weight loss drugs?
Three types of drugs are used in weight loss therapy. Stimulant-like drugs stimulate the central nervous system and reduce appetite. Sibutramine (Meridia) increases levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, helping you feel full. Orlistat prevents a sizable amount of fat absorption in the gut. Regardless of how these weight loss pills work, they only help reduce weight if the user is also limiting calorie intake.
What are the side effects of weight loss drugs?
Side effects of the stimulant-like prescription diet pills include pulmonary hypertension, a rare and potentially fatal disorder due to high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs, valvular disease of the heart, elevated blood pressure, increased pulse and heart rate, restlessness, dizziness, insomnia, dry mouth, and constipation.
Side effects of sibutramine include headache, dry mouth, anorexia, constipation, insomnia, runny nose, and sore throat.
For the diet pill orlistat, side effects include diarrhea, oily stools, gas, flatulence, and a decrease in absorption of fat-soluble vitamin.
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