Prescription appetite suppressants come in a couple different forms, the most common three being phentermine, sibutramine and diethylpropion. These prescription appetite suppressants pretty much all fall under the same umbrella of amphetamines. These are all very rarely prescribed for long term use because of the negative health effects and risk of addiction.
The first, phentermine, is probably the most well known of the three. The side effects of this very popular prescription appetite suppressant can be as mild as headaches, restlessness and nervousness; but sometimes are as serious as irregular heart beat and hypertension. In the mid nineties pharmaceutical chemists mixed phentermine with fenfluramine to create a new prescription appetite suppressant known as phen-fen and marketed under the name Redux. Initial testing showed the drug was extremely effective when it came to weight loss, with participants in the studies who took the drug dropping 16% body fat on average. With those kinds of statistics to market with Redux quickly took off. It turned out, however, that in addition to the regular side effects these prescription appetite suppressants had on their own, when combined they could cause valvular heart disease. As you might have guessed this is a disease which affects the four heart valves and leaves them severely damaged sometimes resulting in death. Redux and all other forms of phen-fen were withdrawn from the market in 1997.
Sibutramine is another prescription appetite suppressant commonly marketed under the name Meridia and is short for sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate. In addition to the multiple drug interactions related to this prescription appetite suppression there is a long list of side effects associated with it. These include dry mouth, upset stomach, dizziness, and the regular side effects associated with all amphetamines such as high blood pressure and irregular heart beat. Strangely, the drug occasionally also results in an increase in appetite. There is some controversy as to the safety of sibutramine and it has been nearly pulled from the market in the past after reports of heart failure and other problems.
The third prescription appetite suppressant I'll overview is diethylpropion. Marketed as Tenuate, it most commonly comes in 25mg and 75mg tablet form, and these are offered in both immediate release and controlled release versions of the prescription appetite suppressant. Chemically, the drug is very similar to sibutramine and a slightly altered version of diethylpropion is used as an antidepressant rather than a prescription appetite suppressant. Again, it is the same old list of side effects: insomnia, hypertension, irregular heart beat. The unique side effects include blurred vision, bone marrow depression and in women menstrual irregularities.
The best option is not a prescription appetite suppressant at all, but a natural one. Hoodia works in a completely different way than other appetite suppressants, it is not a stimulant at all. It works by fooling the brain into thinking glucose in the body is at peak levels. This would normally mean that the person has consumed a large quantity of food and is completely full. There has also been evidence to suggest that hoodia can speed metabolism, helping you burn fat much more quickly. The best part about this is that hoodia has no known side effects, and has been used safely by the Sans Bushmen of South Africa for hundreds of years. You should always consult your doctor before starting any weight loss program or drug, but the chances are that he or she will recommend this far above any prescription appetite suppressant.