PlanetRx - Learn More - Product Advice -

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PlanetRx - Learn More - Product Advice -

It all comes down to calories

Whether you want to lose five holiday pounds or a serious 1-5-0, you are not alone. There are lots of diet aids out there. But in taking aim against fat, don't expect a magic bullet. Even the labels on over-the-counter diet drugs encourage moderate, healthy eating and exercise in order to lose weight. In the end, it's the calories consumed, minus the calories expended, that add up to successful weight loss. Diet drugs can help jump-start your weight-loss program. Just don't rely on them to give you discipline -- you have to do that part yourself.

If You Are Using Diet Drugs to Lose Weight, Follow These Directives

Do not use diet aids for more than three months.
Even small doses of phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride (PPA) can cause increased blood pressure by constricting your blood vessels and increasing your heart rate. Larger doses may lead to anxiety, insomnia, cardiac and circulatory distress, and headaches.
Consult your doctor before embarking on any weight-loss regimen and before using these stimulants (especially PPA), particularly if you have any of the following conditions: high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart or thyroid disease.
PPA is a controversial drug. Some studies have shown it to be safe and effective for up to 16 weeks, while others have revealed it may cause severe health problems.
If you become nervous, dizzy, or have trouble sleeping while on these drugs, stop taking them and consult your doctor.

Some More Information To Digest

Due to statistically unsound studies on the effectiveness of benzocaine diet aids when compared to placebos, the FDA has advised manufacturers that better-designed studies are needed. As a result, many manufacturers have removed benzocaine from their weight-loss products.

Some popular diets are not only ineffective fads, they can be nutritionally unbalanced and dangerous if followed for extensive lengths of time. Avoid diets based on single food groups or that promise results without genuine scientific evidence.

Be equally careful of "natural" ingredients; they do not undergo review for safety and effectiveness. Serious adverse reactions have been associated with ma huang (a botanical source of ephedrine), guar gum, and weight-loss teas.

Stimulants

Stimulants are substances which get the body ready for the so-called "fight or flight" response. As diet aids, it's not exactly clear how stimulants work, but they are thought to activate the central nervous system to reduce food intake. The stimulant used in over-the-counter diet aids is phenylpropranolamine, which is also a common decongestant in cold medications.

Anesthetics

Topical anesthetics -- namely benzocaine -- have an unclear mechanism of action when used as diet aids. They may work by decreasing the ability to detect degrees of sweetness by taste perception. However, since there are no well-designed studies showing benzocaine's efficacy, the FDA has prompted many manufacturers to withdraw benzocaine from their weight-loss products.

Ingredient		Description
Stimulants
Phenylpropanolamine	?	Its mechanism as an appetite suppressant is unknown, but it can be effective and nonaddictive.
Anesthetics
Ingredient		Description
Benzocaine	?	Thought to work by deadening taste buds and thereby suppressing appetite. Safe.

Recommended Dosage

Drug	Adults & Children Over Age 12	Max. Daily	Children Ages 6 to 12	Max. Daily	Children Under Age 6	Max. Daily
Phenylpropanolamine
Phenylpropanolamine	25 mg three times a day, 30 mins. before meals; or 75 mg once daily, depending on specific product	75 mg	Not recommended		Not recommended
Benzocaine
Drug	Adults & Children Over Age 12	Max. Daily	Children Ages 6 to 12	Max. Daily	Children Under Age 6	Max Daily
Benzocaine	6 to 15 mg in candy, gum, or pill; before meals.	45 mg	Not recommended		Not recommended

Warnings

Stimulants

Consult a physician before use or do not use if you have:

Diabetes
Allergy to phenylpropanolamine
Enlarged prostate
Heart disease
High blood pressure
Thyroid disease

Or if you:

Are pregnant or nursing
Are a senior; you may require a lower dosage
Are administering to a child under age 6
Use a larger dose than recommended

Or if you are taking:

Antihypertensives, such as:
- Enalapril (Vasotec): may decrease enalapril's antihypertensive effects
- Nifedipine (Adalat): may decrease nifedipine's antihypertensive effects
- Atenolol (Tenormin) or Metoprolol (Lopressor): may decrease antihypertensive effects
Guanethidine (Ismelin): may decrease guanethidine effects
Indomethacin (Indocin): may cause a serious and sudden increase in blood pressure
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (a class of antidepressants), such as:

Phenelzine (Nardil): increases phenelzine effect and toxicity. May cause a dangerous increase in blood pressure
Tranylcypromine (Parnate): increases tranylcypromine effect and toxicity. May cause a dangerous increase in blood pressure

Topical anesthetics

Consult a physician before use or do not use if you have: