Diet Pills
Diet pills are popular because they aid in helping users control or maintain their weight. But how safe are they? What are the dangers associated with diet pills? This post addresses these questions.
Diet pills are both prescription and over-the-counter supplements which inhibit body processes that affect weight by increasing metabolism, suppressing appetite or preventing fat absorption.
In fact, many prescription diet pills are Schedule III or IV drugs which helps to prevent abuse and helps to keep diet pills being prescribed to individuals who truly need and benefit from them. Regardless of these regulations and rules, diet pills are abused at a disturbing rate.
So many individuals in the U.S. are constantly setting goals and making promises to lose weight so it’s not shocking knowledge that diet pills are common and available in several forms. Some of the most commonly abused diet pills as identify by addictioncenter.com include:
“Benzphetamine (Didrex)
An anorectic closely related to amphetamines. Benzphetamine is most commonly sold under the prescription name Didrex, and its main function is to reduce appetite in obese individuals.
Diethylpropion
(Tenuate, Tepanil) Prescribed on a short term basis to suppress appetite.
Mazindol
(Mazanor, Sanorex) (Currently only approved for use in the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, mazindol prescriptions may be abused for their appetite suppressive properties)
Phentermine
(Adipex, Ionamin) Reduces appetite. (Used short term to reduce weight in overweight individuals)”
Last, diet pills were designed to take the place of amphetamines as appetite suppressants and as such, they have a potential for addiction and dependence. Further, diet pills may cause heightened energy and feelings of euphoria, making the likelihood of addiction more prevalent. Also from addictioncenter.com, “common side effects of diet pill abuse might include:
Insomnia
Dizziness
Hallucinations
Chest pain
Rash and itching
Swelling of legs and ankles
Vomiting
Yellowing of skin or eyes
Dark urine or light-colored stool”
source: addictioncenter.com