Do Weight Loss Pills Work? - Slimmer And Fitter

Do you, as an adult, suffer from major health issues as a result of your weight? Have diet and exercise been tried, but you weren’t able to lose enough weight? If the answer to these questions is yes, you might want to consider a prescription weight-loss medication.

Pills on prescription are those that your doctor has recommended for you. They cannot be purchased in a Pill shop off the shelf like non-prescription medications.

Just be aware that you must use prescription weight-loss medications in addition to healthy eating and exercise, not instead of them.

Table of Contents

Who can take weight-loss Pills?

In some circumstances, your doctor could advise you to use a weight-loss Pill. If food and exercise have not been successful in helping you lose weight, these include:

BMI (body mass index) is greater than 30. This indicates that you have obesity, a condition marked by an excess of body fat.
more than 27 BMI. Additionally, if you suffer from an obesity-related major medical disease like diabetes or high blood pressure.
Your doctor will take into account your medical history and current health issues before selecting a prescription for you. After that, your doctor will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of prescription weight-loss Pills with you.

How well do weight-loss Pills work?

Comparing long-term use prescription weight-loss medications to a placebo, which is a non-medicinal inactive treatment, the former results in significant weight loss. Greater weight reduction occurs when weight loss medications and lifestyle modifications are used together than when lifestyle modifications are used alone.

An additional 3% to 12% of total body weight can be decreased with these medications over the course of a year compared to lifestyle improvements alone. That might not appear to be a lot. However, maintaining a weight loss of between 5 and 10 percent can have significant positive effects on your health. For instance, it can lower triglyceride levels in the blood, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure.

What you should know about weight-loss Pills

Common mild side effects include nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. They might become better with time. Serious adverse effects can occasionally occur. It is crucial to question your doctor about all available treatment options for this reason. And inquire about the potential advantages and dangers of any medicine.

The cost of weight-loss medications can be high, and insurance may not always cover them. Inquire about your coverage with your insurance provider.

When they stop using weight-loss medications, many people put some of the weight they previously lost back on. However, adopting healthy lifestyle practices may aid in preventing weight gain.

How long do I take a weight-loss Pill?

Whether or whether a weight-loss medication works for you determines how long you should take it. Your doctor can advise you to use the medication for a long time if you have reduced enough weight to improve your health and no serious side effects.

After taking a medication at its recommended dosage for three to six months, if you haven’t dropped at least 5% of your body weight, your doctor will probably adjust your course of treatment. They might change the medication you’re taking for weight loss.

What Pills are approved for weight loss?

The U.S. Food and Pill Administration (FDA) has approved six medications for weight loss for long-term use:

Bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave)
Liraglutide (Saxenda)
Orlistat (Xenical, Alli)
Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia)
Semaglutide (Wegovy)
Setmelanotide (Imcivree)

Most prescription weight-loss medications function by causing you to feel satiated or less hungry. Some people combine the two. Orlistat is an exception. It has an impact on how well your body absorbs fat.

Bupropion-naltrexone

A combo medication is bupropion and naltrexone. Addiction to alcohol and opioids is treated with naltrexone. Bupropion is a medication for treating depression (often known as an antidepressant) as well as a quit-smoking assistance. Bupropion contains the same suicide risk warning as all other antidepressants. Blood pressure can be increased with bupropion-naltrexone. As a result, at the beginning of treatment, your provider will need to periodically check your blood pressure. Constipation, headaches, and nausea are typical adverse effects.

Liraglutide

Diabetes can also be managed with liraglutide. It is administered as a daily shot. A common complaint is nausea. Its use may be restricted by nausea.

Orlistat

A reduced-strength version of orlistat is also available without a prescription (Alli). Gas and loose stools are two possible adverse effects of orlistat. When using this medication, a low-fat diet is required. Rarely, orlistat has caused significant liver damage in patients. However, scientists have not discovered that the medication damages the liver.

Phentermine-topiramate

The weight-loss medication phentermine and the anticonvulsant topiramate are combined to create phentermine-topiramate. Given that it functions similarly to the stimulant substance known as an amphetamine, phentermine has the potential to be abused. Other negative effects could include anxiety, sleeplessness, diarrhea, and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. The risk of birth abnormalities is raised with topiramate.

The weight loss Pill phentermine alone (Adipex-P, Lomaira) is also utilized. It is one of four comparable weight-loss medications known as short-term usage that have been licensed for use for less than 12 weeks. The other medications in this class are not frequently administered.