It can be frustrating when it comes time to consider diet pills. Do they work or don’t they when it comes to weight loss? Not only can they be expensive, but some simply aren’t going to be effective. The good news is there are some diet pills that do work when they are taken in conjunction with a healthy diet and active lifestyle. Still though, keep their roles in perspective. While they may provide some weight loss help, their overall effectiveness is limited.

Diet drugs have changed a lot over the past fifty years and while they are safer, they all come with their own risks. You shouldn’t start taking any diet pill before you are educated on how it works and what health risks and/or side effects you may experience while taking the drug. Most importantly, you should always consult with a doctor before taking any diet pill or supplement. Here is a rundown of a few of the most popular diet pills available today.

Meridia (sibutramine)

If you are very overweight or obese and are always hungry, you may want to talk to your doctor about Meridia, a prescription obesity drug that suppresses appetite. It is not known exactly how Meridia works, but it is believed that the loss of appetite that occurs in patients taking the drug is one of the key factors that aid in weight loss.

Meridia works well for some people who seem to never feel “full” after eating. If you have a ravenous appetite and never feel satisfied, Meridia could help you overcome that feeling. This drug is only prescribed to obese and overweight individuals. If you are struggling to lose that last ten pounds, Meridia is not the drug for you since its use is reserved for individuals with more serious weight issues.

Before you start taking Meridia you should talk to your doctor about what to expect on the drug. Meridia has a bit of a reputation. It can increase the risk of stroke or heart attack and it can raise your blood pressure. Meridia has been banned in Italy due to people suffering bad reactions after taking the drug. There have been groups requesting that it be banned in the United States. While it hasn’t been banned in the U.S., the pill’s safety is being monitored by the FDA.

Byetta (exenatide) and Glucophage (metformin)

Byetta is used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is an injectable diabetes medicine. Glucophage is also used for people with type 2 diabetes but it is an oral diabetes medicine. Both medications help control blood sugar levels.

Besides type 2 diabetics, people who suffer from hormonal conditions, which are linked to insulin resistance, that need to lose weight may be prescribed Byetta or Glucophage. Only a doctor can make this determination. Since these drugs are classified as diabetic medications, insurance companies will generally cover the cost of these drugs, unlike most other weight loss medications.

Zimulti (rimonabant)

Hailed as one of the most promising diet pills in the weight loss industry, the FDA hasn’t approved Zimulti because of increased risk of suicidal thoughts. At the time of this writing, this prescription drug isn’t available in the United States. It has been available, however, in the European Union under the name Acomplia.

Alli (orlistat)

Alli is a weight loss supplement available over-the-counter. It is a reduced-strength version of Orlistat, a prescription drug used to treat obesity. It decreases the amount of fat you ingest from being absorbed by the intestines. The undigested fat is excreted from the body in the bowel. By decreasing fat absorption, you decrease the amount of calories you absorb.

It is very important that you do not eat too much fat when taking Alli. Some users of this diet pill have reported loose stools and leakage when they have eaten too much fat. Many have resorted to taking extra clothing with them when they leave home! It is recommended that you consume no more than 15 grams of fat per meal after taking Alli to prevent these unwanted side effects.

Supplements

Don’t take any kind of diet supplements until you know what they are, even if they claim to be “natural.” Just because they are natural doesn’t mean they are good for you. For instance, bitter orange extract is being used as an ephedra replacement in many diet supplements. As you probably know, ephedra was banned because it caused adverse reaction in people, including several strokes and deaths.

There are two supplements, however, that many agree are safe and may be effective in weight loss. They are green tree extract and hoodia gordonii. EGCG, an antioxidant found in green tea, may help boost the body’s metabolism. Hoodia gordonii is a natural appetite suppressant. It tricks the brain into thinking you are full. The idea behind hoodia diet pills is that if you feel full, you’ll eat less. Thus, you’ll lose weight.

What diet pills actually work for weight loss? As you can see, it depends on your situation and how you react to some of these drugs and supplements. What works great for one person may not work for you. Supplements may seem safer, but that is not always the case. The best solution for weight loss is diet and exercise. If you feel diet pills and supplements are necessary, then only look to them as a short-term aid and be sure to talk to your doctor first before taking them!

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