Weight Loss Drugs

If you visit your doctor, he is likely to recommend weight loss drugs or lap band surgery. While these techniques work for some people, you should be fully aware of the side effects before you pick either of those options. You should also be aware that they don’t work for everyone.

I’ve known quite a few people that resorted to gastric bypass or lap band surgery to lose extra pounds. Some of them were happy with the results. The procedure caused serious and life threatening health problems in some of my other friends and family members. The most common side effect is reflux.

Unlike acid reflux, which is accompanied primarily by heart burn, this type of reflux causes vomiting. If you eat to fast, drink too much or become stressed, you may end up running to the bathroom to throw it all back up.

In some cases, people return to their former eating habits, stretching the sutures, which can and has led to perforation. A perforated stomach can quickly turn septic, causing the need for additional surgeries. It can be fatal.

So, as you can see, I’m not a big fan of these surgical procedures, but some fat loss drugs are okay. For years, they were mostly stimulant appetite suppressants like the now banned Fen-fen and ephedra.

The thing is that ephedra is a plant. Some call it an herb. As a dietary supplement, it can be safe and effective. The synthetic formulation that the pharmaceutical companies used was too strong. That’s why it caused numerous deaths. The natural appetite suppressant is still available.

One of the new weight loss drugs, sibutramine, works something like an antidepressant. In technical terms, it is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, similar to amphetamines. Brand names include Meridia and Reductil.

Serotonin and norepinephrine are natural “feel good” chemicals released by the brain. In people who eat for comfort or due to depression, the drug can be very effective. There are, however, side effects.

There are many people who should not take the drug. Often your doctor may be unaware of psychiatric problems, so you should be aware that the drug is not intended for use in people who are bulimic, seriously depressed or have a history of drug and/or alcohol abuse. Read all of the contraindications and side effects before you consider this option.

Another of the newest weight loss drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration is Orlistat, sold under the brand name Xenical. It works differently than former pharmaceuticals. The drug prevents dietary fat from being absorbed.

Some experts would say this is a good idea. Others disagree. It really depends on how much fat is in your diet. The most common and frustrating side effect of Orlistat is diarrhea. Since the fat is not absorbed, it passes through your system, causing diarrhea. Proponents say that you can reduce the gastric discomfort by reducing your fat intake.

This is a common problem that I see with weight loss drugs, they are not the “miracle pills” that they claim to be. They work best when used along with a healthy diet and exercise program. If you follow a program, you may not need the pills.