Back to Blogs
blue bottle with a variety of pills and appetite suppressants
Science

What You Should Know About Taking Appetite Suppressants

Alexander Singh
June 6, 2022

Dietary supplements that suppress your appetite aid in weight loss by reducing your appetite or making you feel full. They may be useful for those who are significantly overweight. Additionally, over-the-counter diet medications are available. When you pair diet pills with a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and diet, you are more likely to lose weight faster. 

One class of weight-loss medication is appetite suppressants (diet pills). They have an impact on the brain's appetite. Diet medications might reduce your appetite or help you feel fuller more quickly. You consume fewer calories. As a result, they are leading to weight loss. People who use prescribed appetite suppressants with a good diet and regular exercise typically lose between 3% and 9% of their initial weight in a year.

What Are The Types Of Medications and Pills That Suppress Your Appetite?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States has authorized several prescription drugs that are meant to reduce appetite. Others are intended to be taken for a brief period, typically no longer than 12 weeks, while others are approved for long-term usage.

The FDA-approved appetite suppressants used for short-term use are: 

  • Diethylpropion 
  • Phentermine (Adipex P, Lomaira)
  • Phendimetrazine (Bontril PDM)
  • Benzphetamine (Didrex, Regimex)
  • Naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave) 

The FDA-approved appetite suppressants for long-term use are: 

  • Semaglutide (Wegovy)
  • Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia)

There are various methods of losing weight available that do not stifle hunger. One of these is the drug orlistat (brand names Xenical or Alli). While it has been demonstrated that this medicine aids in weight loss, it does so without decreasing hunger. Instead, it works by blocking the digestion of fat.

Diethylpropion (Tenuate dospan)

To aid in weight loss, diethylpropion is combined with a reduced-calorie diet, regular exercise, and a program to improve your weight. When diet and exercise alone haven't been sufficient to help a person lose enough weight, they are prescribed this medication. The numerous health concerns associated with obesity, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and a shortened lifespan, can be decreased by losing weight and keeping it off. This medicine functions by reducing your hunger and impacting your specific brain regions. This medicine suppresses your appetite and belongs to the sympathomimetic amines pharmacological class.

Use the immediate-release version of this drug orally as advised by your doctor, often three times a day, one hour before meals. Your doctor might advise you to take another dose later in the day if eating late at night becomes a problem. 

Phendimetrazine (Prelu-2)

Phendimetrazine aids in weight loss when combined with a reduced-calorie diet or exercise regimen prescribed by your health care provider. Some overweight persons, including those who are obese or have health issues related to their weight, use it. It might function by reducing your hunger and having an impact on the brain regions that manage and trigger one’s appetite. 

Take this drug by mouth in the instant version an hour before meals or as prescribed by your doctor, often 2 to 3 times a day. Phendimetrazine in sustained-release form is often given once daily, 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast. The capsules must not be broken, chewed, or crushed. Doing so may destroy the drug's long-lasting effects, and side effects might even worsen.

Phentermine (Pro-Fast)

To assist you in losing weight, phentermine is often prescribed by doctors with a calorie-reduced diet and exercise regimen. Multiple health issues related to obesity, including heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, can be avoided and reduced by losing weight and suppressing your appetite. 

Take this drug by mouth, usually once daily, one hour prior to breakfast or one to two hours after breakfast, as prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may change your dosage so that you take a tiny quantity up to three times daily if necessary. The dose is typically taken once daily, preferably before breakfast or at least 10 to 14 hours before night if you are using sustained-release capsules. 

Phentermine/Topiramate (Qsymia)

This medicine helps in weight loss when consumed while following a lowered diet and exercise regimen through your doctor's approval. Some overweight persons, such as those who are obese or have health issues related to their weight, are usually prescribed this medicine. This drug is a mixture of topiramate and phentermine. As a member of the sympathomimetic amines pharmacological class, phentermine suppresses appetite. Topiramate is also called antiepileptic drug or anticonvulsant. 

As prescribed by your doctor, take this drug by mouth once daily in the morning, with or without a meal. Completely inhale the capsules. Never chew or crush the capsules. Your medical situation and treatment response will determine the dosage. Your doctor might advise you to start this medicine at a low dose and gradually raise it in order to lower your risk of experiencing side effects. 

Do They Actually Work To Curb Hunger?

According to research, weight loss medications can make you lose weight, but they are not a miracle solution. Relative to people who don't take these medications, those who shed 10 to 25 more pounds overall (Bersoux, 2017).

Making sure that weight reduction medication is a part of a larger program that also incorporates a balanced diet, regular exercise, and other lifestyle modifications is the key to success. Lifestyle adjustments are essential for long-term weight loss because the majority of these treatments are not meant to be used continuously.

While appetite suppressants have many advantages, not everyone experiences success with them. After losing weight, you can have a plateau; if you quit taking appetite suppressants, you'll probably put the weight back on.

Are They Safe?

Yes. Using appetite suppressants while under medical supervision is a secure weight loss method. The FDA has authorized phentermine for weight loss since 1959. Since then, it has been established that using effective appetite suppressants according to a doctor’s prescription is safe.

Although patients rarely have side effects from appetite suppressants, individuals do occasionally report hyperactivity or agitation, headaches, sleeplessness, dizziness, and dry mouth. When taken precisely as supervised by your doctor, appetite suppressants are secure and safe to consume. 

Can These Pills Help You Lose Weight?

Although appetite suppressants have indeed been proven to be a useful tool in the weight loss process, they usually won't help you lose a significant amount of weight. Despite being more successful than a placebo at promoting weight reduction, a review of five popular FDA-approved appetite suppressants showed that most users only lost around 5% of their body weight. 

Now, a five percent reduction is a fantastic place to start for many people who are thinking about losing weight. That would be a weight decrease of 15 pounds for a 300-pound person. It goes without saying that some people lose a lot more weight with appetite suppressants, while others may find it difficult to do so because the weight loss isn't caused only by the drug.

What Are The Side Effects?

Collaborating with a gastroenterologist can help you reduce these risks and keep your weight loss strategy on track. All drugs have potential adverse effects. The following are some possible negative consequences of an appetite suppressant regimen:

  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Constipation
  • Insomnia
  • Diarrhea
  • Nervousness

When you understand how the drug affects you, you can limit or lessen many of these effects because they are generally moderate. It's crucial to commit to healthy lifestyle changes if you're thinking about using an appetite suppressor because they may help with weight reduction and reduce these adverse effects.

Other Options To Consider

There are numerous diets, pills, and meal replacement programs that promise quick weight loss, but the majority of them are unsupported by science. However, there are several tactics with scientific support that really do help with weight control.

These activities include working out, managing your caloric intake, intermittent fasting, and reducing the intake of sugar in your diet. Using a diet full of protein, fiber, nutrition, vitamins, minerals, and all the healthy fatty acids helps a person have a healthy and fit body. 

Medical procedures like weight-loss surgeries and therapies can also assist in effective and quick weight loss. However, each body is different, and one should consult with a professional health care provider for the best option depending on their weight and body's tendency to lose weight. 

Learn More With Alfie

While there are plenty of options to lose weight, appetite suppressants are also effective. It totally depends on each person's body and how well they react to each weight-loss method. There are also online weight-loss groups that can help a person lose weight effectively; one like Alfie is a leading program in this category. 

If you are also looking for the most appropriate option to cater for your weight-loss journey, you can contact us at joinalfie.com for the best available option depending on your weight and body. We offer FDA-approved medication, professional consultation, skilled guidance, and support groups to elevate your motivation and accelerate your journey.