Weight loss pills can help obese people. They are often prescribed by a doctor when diet and exercise alone do not work. Each of these medications works in a different way. People using these medications may not feel hungry. Or they may feel full after eating a small meal. Other types of weight-loss drugs make it harder for your body to absorb fat. Weight-loss medications can help when used along with a low-calorie diet and regular exercise.
Who uses Shark tank weight loss drinks?
Shark tank weight loss drink are designed for obese people. Most of these medications are designed for people who weigh 20% or more of their normal height and body mass. Or they are used in people with a high body mass index (BMI). BMI is a measure of your weight in relation to your height. Your doctor may prescribe medicine to treat obesity if you have:
BMI 30 or more;
BMI 27 or more, and you have a disease or condition that may be related to your weight (possibly including diabetes or high blood pressure).
Your doctor can tell you if weight-loss medications can help you.
The path to better health
In general, weight loss drugs work in two ways. Most of them work in your body to reduce hunger or feel full faster. FDA-approved medications work in your digestive tract. It blocks the amount of fat your body can absorb. Some drugs are approved for a short period of time, usually no more than 12 weeks. Others can be used permanently.
The following are currently FDA-approved medications for weight loss. It also includes information on how they work, common side effects, and warnings for each.
Orlistat
Brand Name: Xenical
How it works: Reduces body fat.
Side effects: diarrhea, gas, uncontrollable diarrhea, oily diarrhea.
Warning: May reduce the amount of certain vitamins your body can absorb. You must take multivitamin pills every day.
Orlistat is also available in low doses without a prescription. This inexpensive medicine is called Alli. Orlistat is the only drug of its kind approved in the United States.
The following medicines make you less hungry or feel full faster. They share common side effects, including chronic constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, diarrhea, and nausea. Additional side effects for each medication are listed.
lorcaserina
Brand Name: Belviq
How it works: Helps you feel full faster by activating serotonin receptors in the brain.
Side effects: cough, headache, fatigue
Warning: May cause contact with medications used to treat depression, anxiety, or migraines.
Naltrexone-bupropion
Brand Name: Contrave
How it works: Reduces hunger or makes you feel full faster.
Side effects: headache, high blood pressure and high heart rate, insomnia, liver damage, vomiting.
Caution: Do not use it if you have untreated high blood pressure, have a heart condition, or have a history of bulimia or bulimia. Do not use it if addicted to opiates or abstaining from drugs or alcohol. Do not use it if you are already taking bupropion (brand name Wellbutrin, Zyban). This medication may increase suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
Phentermine-topiramate
Brand Name: Qsymia
How it works: Reduces appetite and fills you up faster.
Side effects: changes in taste (especially carbonated drinks), thirsty hands and feet, difficulty sleeping
Warnings: Tell your doctor if you have a heart attack, stroke, abnormal heart attack, kidney disease, or heart attack. Do not eat if you have hyperthyroidism or glaucoma. This medicine can cause disability. Do not use it if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing.
liraglutide
Brand Name: Saxenda
How it works: Keeps you from feeling hungry or full faster.
Side effects: abdominal pain, headache, increased heart rate
Warning: Available only by injection. This can increase the risk of pancreatitis.
There are other medications that can reduce your appetite. These include:
Levitra
- benzphetamine
- diethylpropion
- phendimetrazine
These medications are approved by the FDA for short-term use, up to 12 weeks. They also have side effects. These include:
- difficulty to sleep;
- anxiety and anxiety;
- headache;
- high blood pressure or heart rate.
You should not use these medications if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, or glaucoma. You should tell your doctor if you have any emotional concerns or disturbances before using these medications.
In rare cases, certain weight-loss medications can cause significant liver damage. Call your doctor right away if you notice any symptoms of liver disease, including:
skin itch;
- yellow eyes or skin;
- brown or dark colored urine;
- pale diarrhea;
- loss of appetite;
- abdominal pain.
Some supplements that contain ephedra, ephedrine, or caffeine can be taken without a prescription (for sale). It is not known if these medications are safe. Such supplements have been associated with reports of heart disease, seizures, vascular rupture, and death. It’s important to talk to your doctor if you’re taking or thinking about taking an over-the-counter supplement.
