Obesity is the root cause of many health hazards in the modern age. However doctors still would vouch for adopting a healthy lifestyle including careful diet and physical exercises rather than prescribing any weight loss medications. They generally reserve the weight loss drugs only for the morbidly obese individuals with some additional medical risks. Inherent failure of certain weight loss drugs to cure obesity along with dangerous side effects associated with their usage have made physicians all over to be discouraged in prescribing these medications. Nonetheless value of certain top weight loss medications cannot be undermined and needs mentioning.
This belongs to the category of drugs known as anoretics or appetite suppressants. This is a prescription weight loss medication that helps in effective weight management when combined with a low calorie diet. phentermine can be found in the form of a tablet, capsule or also as an extended release capsule. It is made by different companies under various commercial names like lonamin® by Medeva Pharmaceutical and also Adipex-P® by Gate Pharmaceuticals. Generics are Obenix, Phentercot, Profast Anoxine-M, Zontryl, Pro-Fast, Teramine and Phentride.
Phentermine works by stimulating nerves for releasing a specific neurotransmitter known as catecholamine. These are dopamine, epinephrine, (adrenaline) norepinephrine (noradrenaline). The higher degrees of these chemicals apparently help in decreasing the feeling of hunger. This drug is however recommended for short term treatment only.
Some of the side effects that may occur with the usage of Phentermine are insomnia, restlessness, vomiting, increased heart rate and dizziness.
Sibutramine weight loss:
This drug has been a proven stimulant, acting on the central nervous system. Sibutramine prevents the re-uptake of specific brain neurotransmitters. Some of these are serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. All the chemicals in the brain are related to the mechanisms of sense of fullness and hunger. The re-uptake inhibition system suppresses appetite paving way to decreased calorie intake and subsequent weight loss.
Sibutramine weight Loss is marketed under the commercial name Meridia® in the United States and Reductil ® in Europe.
Some of the common side effects associated with the use of this drug include irritability, anxiety, constipation, and dry mouth.
Orlistat weight loss:
Unlike most other approved anorectics, Orlistat weight loss does not act on the Central Nervous System. It plays the role of a lipase inhibitor which results in reduced calorie intake by decreasing absorption of fat in the digestive tract.
It is marketed by Roche Pharmaceutical as Xenical ®.
Orlistat is known to inhibit average 30% of dietary fat from being assimilated inside the body. The general prescription dose is 120mg (one capsule) thrice a day before meals.
Since Orlistat is not absorbed into the body, it is well tolerated and mostly free from side effects. It can even be used for longer time periods, as much as two years.
With a plethora of weight loss medications crowding today’s market, finding the ideal one can be a daunting task. It is best to read through various reviews, and take the help of your physician before making any purchase of these drugs.