3 Types Of Appetite Suppressant Pills That You Should Know

There are several kinds of appetite suppressant pills available in the market. Some of them are approved by the FDA while others are not. Some of these pills also impact the metabolism and enzyme functioning for fat storage apart from affecting brain chemistry to suppress hunger. Here are the different common types of appetite suppressant pills available in the market:

1. The most common appetite suppressant pills are available over the counter and mainly work on the brain chemistry. These are the kind of diet pills that work for a short time as the user does not feel that much hungry and eats less. However, these kind of appetite suppressant pills are only good for short-term weight loss. Eventually, when the user returns to eating properly, the lost weight returns – often much too fast. These kind of pills also do not impact the overall fat-retention capacity of the body. People using only these pills for fat loss reach a plateau much faster and also suffer the impact of dieting.
2. Natural appetite suppressant pills are made of natural extracts that were used during famines and when people wanted to undertake long journeys hundreds of years back. Some plants have the natural ability to suppress hunger. Hundreds of years back, in all cultures, these extracts were the only way to save people during famines. With no modern methods of travel available, people wanting to travel far for economic reasons had to use these extracts to be able to save money and not worry about getting hungry all the time. The weight-loss industry has made millions already by using these extracts in fat-loss pills. Two most common natural extracts are Hoodia Gordonii and Caralluma – flourishing in desert-like or semi-desert like climate. Most experts say, appetite suppressant pills with natural extracts do not cause side effects but you must consider that not pills are approved by the FDA. Some of these pills may still affect the liver and blood sugar. Most natural supplements have been recently launched and their potential long-term effects have not been studied.
3. Prescription appetite suppressant pills have been used for several years and the FDA has approved most of them. These, typically include:
   • Meridia: That works on specific chemicals in the brain to suppress hunger. The FDA approved Meridia in 1997. Side effects of Meridia may include headaches, constipation, insomnia and dryness of the mouth.
   • Ephedra: This kind of appetite suppressant pill is used with several herbal supplements for weight loss and is considered a harmful stimulant. It can cause irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, even seizures, tremors, heart attacks, strokes, insomnia and nervousness.

Whenever you decide to take any kind of appetite suppressant pills, you must consult your doctor even if you don’t have a medical history. No appetite suppressant can give you long-term fat loss benefits unless you eventually improve your overall dietary habits.

Integrating proper nutrition with a proper exercise program at least thrice a week can alone ensure proper and permanent fat loss. You can use appetite suppressant pills to trigger fat loss but to maintain the loss, you will need to overhaul your lifestyle.

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What Is An Appetite Suppressant And How It Works

One way to lose weight is to consume less calories. And to eat less means you require something to make you feel less hungry. That’s where an appetite suppressant helps. An appetite suppressant is part of the amphetamine group of drugs. This group of drugs has a powerful stimulant effect on the central nervous system by stimulating mental and physical activity while diminishing hunger.

An appetite suppressant acts on the brain center responsible for triggering hunger. In some cases, it may also improve the functioning of enzymes that control fat storage. An appetite suppressant works directly on brain chemistry and not on any other aspect of the body, as sometimes believed. It does not improve metabolism or trigger fat loss.

Appetite suppressants are usually the first choice for people wanting to lose weight quickly. However, they forget that the weight-loss does not last and using an appetite suppressant alone to lose weight without exercising and improving nutrition does not really help in permanent weight loss.

An appetite suppressant may lead to partial starvation and loss of vital tissues, muscle mass and organs leading to apparent weight loss.

In some cases, patients may develop drug tolerance. This means that the appetite suppressant being given in a certain dose fails to reduce appetite after a few months and the dose needs to be increased. Eventually, the patient not only suffers side effects of the long-term use of a drug but may also get addicted. Some other common side effects of using an appetite suppressant may include:

• increase in heart rate called tachycardia or worse.
• high blood pressure.
• abdominal pain and spasms of bladder and rectum.
• chronic restlessness and hyper excitability alternating with melancholia.

There are also natural appetite suppressants that have been used for hundreds of years. Natural plants like Hoodia Gordonii and Caralluma were used thousands of years ago as appetite suppressants during famines and  travel of long duration.

Hoodia is a plant found in regions with a semi-desert kind of climate. Today, it is marketed commercially. Caralluma is also a desert plant and controls enzymes that lead to fat storage along with suppressing hunger.

Even though manufacturers say natural ingredients used in an appetite suppressant for weight loss do not have side effects, people using these supplements must keep in mind that:

• Even some natural supplements may affect blood sugar and liver functioning.
• The FDA has not approved many appetite suppressants.
• A natural appetite suppressant may also reduce thirst leading to dehydration.
• There is no clear data available about clinical trials and evaluations of the impact of a natural appetite suppressant.

People prefer taking prescription appetite suppressants but even though some of these drugs may have been approved by the FDA, side effects may manifest after some time.

Patients, with or without any medical history, must consult a qualified medical practitioner before taking any appetite suppressant. Those already taking drugs have to be extra careful so that there is no interference in their regular medical treatment.

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