Weight loss drugs can be classified into two basic categories - prescription weight loss drugs, which have been around for years, and recently, over-the-counter medicines. Other over the counter weight loss drugs & medicines are considered dietary supplements; there are also herbal remedies for weight loss availble.
Medicines for weight loss can really make a difference for many people, but it must be remembered that one has to also follow a complete healthy lifestyle that includes diet and exercise. Most of the experts opines that there is no quick fix or magic pill when it comes to losing weight. Weight loss drugs/medicines (not to be confused with dietary supplements) can help lose weight, but only if one also cut calories and get moving. The fact is that effective weight loss is slow and gradual.
There are very few medicines available for treating obesity. We could use only 5-10 different types of weight loss drugs.
Weight loss drugs which act as fat blockers reduce fat absorption but, because of this few people are plagued with oily discharge, fatty stools, gas, and/or inability to control bowel movements. These is because of the fact that the fat does not get absorbed by the body. Eating a low-fat diet reduces the risk of this kind of side effect. But if your diet is already low in fat, you may see less of an impact from the medicine, as there is less fat to block.
Meridia helps reduce hunger by working on the appetite control center in the brain that makes you feel full. Meridia is indicated for people who need to lose 30 pounds or more depending on height, and should be used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet. Meridia is not for everyone including persons who are allergic to any of the ingredients of Meridia, those with anorexia nervosa , bulimia nervosa, or who are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or other weight loss medications that act on the brain. Meridia substantially increases blood pressure or heart rate in some patients and should not be given to patients with uncontrolled or poorly controlled hypertension, history of heart disease, stroke, severe liver or kidney disease, pregnant women or nursing mothers. Meridia should be used cautiously in patients with a history of hypertension, glaucoma or seizures.
Acomplia helps in controlling food cravings gradually resulting in weight loss, improvement of cardiovascular/metabolic risk factors in obese patients. Acomplia (Rimonabant) is a weight loss drug is or anti-obesity drug discovered and developed by a French pharmaceutical company that works by blocking the CB1 receptor, which stimulates hunger and other cravings in the brain and is also present in fat tissue.
There are numerous weight loss plans that are effective. According to researchers of National Weight Control Registry, here is what successful losers do to maintain their weight loss:
Drug therapy for weight loss is only one part of a lifestyle and includes a healthy eating plan, regular exercise, and behavior modification. The bottom line with weight loss is that you have to eat fewer calories than you burn.
