Over The Counter Weight Loss Drugs - Costs And Other Considerations
Being obese is not a good look and on top of that, there are a number of health risks associated with being overweight. The increasing sedentary lifestyles that we tend to be leading in the 21st century has seen being overweight become a global problem. The age old advice for maintaining a healthy weight range – reducing our calorie intake and having a regular exercise regime – still holds, but in an age where convenience reigns, it should come as no surprise that people are also looking for short cuts when it comes to losing weight. As a result weight loss drugs are another way of people attempting to “have their cake and lose it too”. Weight loss drugs can either be prescribed by your physician or bought over the counter. This page will deal with over the counter weight loss medication. The first thing that needs to be pointed out is that over the counter (OTC) weight loss drugs are not subject to approval or regulation by the FDA. As a result, there is limited research on the hundreds of OTC diet pills out there, and almost no long-term research. Many of these drugs, over the counter or prescription may have unwanted side effects such as diarrhea, headaches, or stomach upset. Your best course of action is to take weight loss drugs in consultation with your physician – who will of course recommend a prescription weight loss pill such as Xenical. Failing that, proceed with caution. The one non prescription weight loss drug that has been recommended by the FDA is Alli and it is in fact the first officially sanctioned non prescription weight loss pill. Alli is an over-the-counter version of the prescription drug, Xenical, which has been sold in the United States since 1999. Alli blocks the breakdown and absorption of fat in the intestine and at the same time blocks the absorption of calories from that fat. Fat that is not absorbed merely passes through the system, and as such can lead to side effects like flatulence, oily stools and the occasional loss of bowel control. Alli costs about $40 for a 60-capsule starter pack, $60 for a 90-capsule starter pack and $70 for a 120-capsule refill pack. Alli shouldn't be taken by anyone who has healthy weight, who's taking cyclosporine, who's had an organ transplant, or who has problems absorbing food. The drug also may pose risks for anyone who takes blood-thinning medication or has diabetes or thyroid disease. It should always be kept in mind that the consumption of Alli (or any other rapid weight loss diet pills) is only a short term fix at best. If weight loss is achieved and you then revert to your previous non-exercising-big-eating habits, the weight will soon be put back on.
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