Weight Loss Drug Advice

If you feel that you could be overweight, it is important to realise that the best course of action might not be liposuction, or other forms of cosmetic surgery. Most doctors will recommend dieting and exercising before they consider surgical options for example. In the case of liposuction, in most instances it is used to rid the body of fatty build ups under the skin, but these are usually in the parts of the body that are left unaffected by other weight loss options. These places include the chin, chest, back, sides and thighs. Other parts of the body that can be altered by exercising are usually discouraged for the use of liposuction.

Your doctor may consider weight loss prescription drugs. These are forms of medication that can control your weight through a variety of methods which includes affecting your metabolism, appetite or the ability of the body to absorb nutrients and fats in food. Examples of these medications include Reductil, Xenical, Acomplia, Meridia and Phentermine. The pros and cons of the drugs tend to vary between each specimen and subject, but most drugs do have potential side effects even if they are only minor and doctors generally only prescribe drugs for weight loss if the potential benefits outweigh the drawbacks. They will also consider your general health and weight.

Reductil
Reductil is prescription drug which affects your appetite so that you feel more full when you have not eaten as much, resulting in weight loss by eating less. Drugs that fulfil this purpose of suppressing the appetite are often referred to as anorectics. It works by blocking the release and absorption of serotonin by blocking the nerve cells that do this. As a result, the serotonin levels increase and tell the brain that you are feeling full.
Suitable candidates for Reductil are those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of above thirty (or twenty seven if you have weight related health concerns). Those people using Reductil are advised to continue exercising and to have a diet of reduced calories. If weight loss is not occurring, the doctor will often consider taking you off the medication depending on the amount of time you have been using it.
Certain people cannot use the drug and you should discuss this with your doctor if there is a possibility that this is you. Generally, health issues are the overall theme, but people who are unsuitable include (but are not limited to) people with anorexia, bulimia, psychiatric issues or if there are other medications you have taken recently. You can find more information on Reductil here.

Xenical
Another prescription drug, Xenical affects the absorption of fat into the body. It does this by blocking enzymes in the intestine which digest fat. As a result, something in the area of thirty per cent of fat is not absorbed after you have eaten it, so that fatty foods simply pass through your system without you gaining weight. As with Reductil your doctor will expect you to continue with dieting and exercising, checking regularly whether you are losing weight. If you are not and have not lost five percent of your body weight after a certain amount of time then you will be told to no longer take the drug.
Suitable candidates for the use of Xenical are again determined via circumstances including your BMI, which must be above thirty (or twenty eight with health issues). As with a lot of circumstances like with liposuction, your doctor will expect you to have attempted other weight loss options before they prescribe you Xenical and you must have been able to lose some weight beforehand. You can find more information on Xenical here.

Drawbacks of Prescription Medication
All drugs have their side effects. It is the doctor’s job to decide if these drawbacks are too high to stop them being of benefit to you. Xenical, for example can affect stools and can cause flatulence because of the affect on fat absorption. Reductil can cause issues with a dry mouth and an affect on blood pressure as well as sleeping issues and constipation. These are only example of the side effects associated with the drugs and should not be taken as a comprehensive list. It should also be noted that in some cases, the side effects can pass after a short amount of time and the benefits can then take effect.