Millions of people around the world use diet supplements of some kind to try to lose weight. You might assume that the government regulates diet supplements and that they will not hurt you. While most supplements are safe for most people, most diet supplements also have side effects that are unpleasant or dangerous to some people.
The fact is, dietary supplements do not have to have FDA approval before they are marketed. It is left entirely up to the manufacturer to determine if the product is safe and all the FDA requires is that the product labeling follow specific guidelines.
There appears to be three diet supplements that have been approved by the FDA. Two of these are available only by prescription and one is an over the counter product.
A diet pill has to go through a lot of testing and be verified as a safe drug to take as a diet aid to be approved by the FDA. Many manufacturers do not apply for FDA approval because this testing can take many years to complete.
The approved diet pills are:
1. Xenical is prescription drug that is on the list of FDA approved diet pills. It works by keeping fat from being absorbed in the intestines. Xenical requires a prescription and you should remain under your doctors care while you are taking these diet pills.
Side effects are mostly bowel related and include gas, fatty stool, diarrhea, abdominal pain and soft stool. However, According to the FDA, new information regarding reports of liver-related adverse reactions in patients is being reviewed.
2. Alli: Alli is a fat-blocker that is a half-strength dose of the prescription drug Xenical and is the only approved over-the-counter diet pill. This supplement works by preventing the absorption of as much as one quarter of the fat you consume. Alli is available online or at most drug stores.
When used according to recommendations and with a low-fat diet and regular exercise, Alli could improve your weight loss by about 50 percent. As an example, if you would lose 10 pounds on your diet, adding Alli could cause you to lose up to 15 pounds with no additional effort. With Alli, a lot of the fat that would normally be broken down and absorbed through the intestines after a meal is not broken down and is not absorbed by the body.
A word of caution. It is important to limit the fat in your diet to avoid excessively fatty stools or even bowel incontinence. Be aware that Alli can interfere with the absorption of some vitamins, so be careful to take your vitamins at a time when Alli will not interfere with them.
If you are struggling with weight loss and you can stick to a low-fat, low-calorie diet, Alli might help you shed those extra unwanted pounds. But, check with your health care provider before any diet that includes dietary supplements.
3. Meridia is another prescription drug that is on the FDA approval list that is usually prescribed for people more than 30 pounds overweight. These are powerful diet pills that make you feel full even when you are not. A serious side effect is that it also suppresses feelings of thirst as well. Other unwanted side effects can be constipation, insomnia, high blood pressure and headaches. But, meridia is effective when it is used correctly and with a low calorie diet.
Before you start taking and of the FDA approved diet pills you should consult your doctor first. Certain health conditions can constrain you from taking diet pills.
