Appetite suppressants: Appetite suppressants work by "tricking"
the body into thinking that it is not hungry. This can be effective; however,
long term use can lead to addiction and create health complications. These drugs
are only good for as long as you are taking them. In order to lose weight
effectively, you must learn to adjust your eating habits, otherwise you will
simply regain any lost weight. Recently, the FDA has taken steps to remove phenylpropanolamine (PPA), a common weight loss ingredient in appetite
suppressants, from all drug products and has requested that all drug companies
discontinue marketing products containing PPA. Recent studies have linked PPA an
increased risk of stroke. The FDA warns consumers to avoid use of products
containing PPA.
Ephedrine (ma-huang): Ephedrine is a common ingredient in herbal dietary
supplements used for weight loss. Ephedrine is used in asthma medicine, as well
as to make methamphetamine, more commonly known as speed. In fact, there's only
a slight chemical difference between methamphetamine and ephedrine. Ephedrine
can slightly suppress your appetite, but no studies have shown it to be
effective in weight loss. However, ephedrine can also be dangerous and cause
high blood pressure, heart rate irregularities, insomnia, nervousness, tremors,
seizures, heart attacks, strokes, and even death. Ephedrine can also interact
with many prescription and over-the-counter medications.
St. John's Wort: Primarily used as an antidepressant due to its effects
on serotonin (increases), most of the studies conducted on this herbal medicine
have been very small and have not been for weight loss. These studies have been
to assess the effectiveness of this agent in the management of depression. St.
John’s Wort is one of the primary ingredients in herbal phen-fen. If you are
taking St. John’s wort, you should avoid tyramine-containing foods (i.e., aged
meats, cheese, wines, etc). You should also avoid medications such as fluoxetine
(Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), venlafaxine (Effexor),
trazodone (Desyrel), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), meperidine
(Demerol), buspirone (Buspar), and dextromethorphan (contained in various OTC cold
remedies). The use of St. John's Wort for weight loss is theoretical and
potentially very dangerous. It should be avoided as an herbal remedy for weight
loss.
5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP): Found in some over-the-counter weight loss
formulas, this extract from a West African plant seed contains a contaminant
linked to a rare and potentially deadly blood disorder. It has not been proven
to effectively promote weight loss.