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.