Choosing a weight loss drug: Understanding four indicators, five types of side effects, and nine precautions

Several indicators to consider when choosing weight loss drugs

When choosing weight loss drugs, you should first have a comprehensive understanding of your own physical condition. If you are unsure about your situation, you should consult an expert or professional and not make your own judgment.

Generally speaking, the following indicators must be considered when choosing weight loss drugs:

Consultation: First, call the product's hotline to inquire about the specific details of the product, investigate and understand it clearly, and at the same time listen to the opinions of your companions.

Mechanism: Carefully read the drug's weight loss mechanism in the instructions to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Certificates: Check whether the product has obtained the relevant quality certificate issued by the Ministry of Health of China. Only products with certificates can be guaranteed in terms of quality.

Batch Number: Pay attention to the product approval number, and whether it is approved by a national authoritative review authority such as the "National Drug Approval Number". Generally speaking, the review requirements of national review authorities are stricter than those of local approval authorities. Products that can pass the approval of national review authorities are more reliable in terms of quality and safety.

Brand: Choose well-known brands whenever possible, as large manufacturers have strong overall capabilities, clear product development goals, advanced technology, and therefore high quality assurance, as well as more comprehensive after-sales service.

In short, you should consider many factors when choosing and purchasing weight loss products so that you can lose weight with peace of mind and satisfaction.

Be aware of the side effects of 5 types of weight loss drugs.

As the saying goes, "every medicine has its side effects," and diet pills are no exception. In their eagerness to lose weight quickly, many dieters blindly take diet pills, ignoring their potential side effects, which is extremely dangerous. Below are some ingredients found in diet pills that may cause health problems; please pay close attention when taking them.

diuretics

Diuretics work by causing temporary weight loss through dehydration, thereby reducing body fat. However, once discontinued, weight quickly returns, and problems such as vomiting, dizziness, and weakness can lead to kidney damage.

laxative

Besides causing diarrhea, laxatives also reduce appetite, thus achieving a weight loss effect. However, the weight will quickly return once you stop taking them. Moreover, frequent use of laxatives can damage gastrointestinal function and lead to problems such as intestinal relaxation and anemia.

Expanding agent

Bulking agents, primarily composed of refined protein, can induce a feeling of fullness in the stomach and intestines, reducing appetite. However, they can easily lead to vitamin and nutrient deficiencies, causing malnutrition. In particular, excessive use can cause thickening of blood vessel walls, leading to problems such as hypertension, diabetes, and angina.

Sibutramine

Medications containing sibutramine, such as Qumei and Octyl, act directly on the nervous system to suppress appetite, making people feel less hungry even after eating very little, or unable to eat much even when hungry. Sibutramine hydrochloride is a centrally acting weight-loss drug that accelerates metabolism and suppresses appetite. While weight-loss products like Qumei may contain slightly lower levels of sibutramine hydrochloride than regular medications, the effect is essentially the same. It's advisable to consult a doctor before taking any such medications.

The main groups of people who should not take this type of medication include: patients receiving monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) treatment; anorexia nervosa; pathological obesity, such as Cushing's syndrome, hypothyroidism, etc.; patients with uncontrolled or poorly controlled hypertension; patients with coronary heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmia, and stroke; patients with severe liver or kidney dysfunction; pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and women planning to become pregnant; children under 16 years of age and the elderly over 65 years of age are not recommended to use this medication; and those allergic to the medication.

Adverse reactions to this type of medication mainly include: dry mouth, loss of appetite, insomnia, constipation; fever; increased heart rate and blood pressure; bronchitis and dyspnea; diarrhea, gastroenteritis, and flatulence; restlessness, limb spasms, increased tension, abnormal thinking, seizures, interstitial nephritis, and menstrual disorders; skin ecchymosis due to prolonged bleeding time; peripheral edema; arthritis; pruritus; amblyopia; and abnormal liver function tests, including increases in AST, ALT, GGT, LDH, alkaline phosphatase, and hepatrubin.

Orlistat

Drugs containing orlistat, such as Xenical and other similar medications, have relatively few side effects. They primarily inhibit the absorption of food in the gastrointestinal tract, causing ingested fat to be excreted directly without being absorbed by the body, and increasing the frequency of daily bowel movements. Because they only act on the gastrointestinal tract and not the brain, and hardly enter the bloodstream, the most common adverse reactions are gastrointestinal, often manifesting as oily spots and oily stools. These side effects are mostly mild, usually occur in the early stages of treatment, and resolve spontaneously.

People who should not take this type of medication mainly include those with chronic malabsorption syndrome, cholestasis, and those who are allergic to orlistat or any other component of the drug formulation.

Adverse reactions to this type of medication mainly include gastrointestinal side effects, which are related to the drug's pharmacological effect of inhibiting the absorption of ingested fat. Common adverse reactions include: oily spots, increased flatulence, defecation urgency, fatty (oily) stools, steatorrhea, increased bowel movements, and fecal incontinence. Acute gastrointestinal reactions that are more common in patients taking Xenical include: abdominal pain, flatulence, watery stools, loose stools, rectal pain, tooth discomfort, and gum discomfort. In addition to these symptoms, respiratory infections, influenza, headaches, menstrual disorders, anxiety, fatigue, and urinary tract infections may also occur.

Experts point out that most weight-loss drugs are prescription drugs, and whether or not they can be taken should be decided by a doctor. Do not take them without authorization; do not use them for a long time to avoid addiction; and do not use two weight-loss drugs at the same time.

Nine things to note when using diet pills

Generally, weight loss should not rely primarily on medication; it should only be used when obesity is exceptionally severe. Theoretically, all weight-loss drugs have side effects, and long-term use can lead to drug dependence and other harm. Therefore, the benefits and risks should be weighed carefully when choosing a drug treatment, and one should not act blindly. Below are nine precautions for using weight-loss drugs:

Strictly adhere to the indications

Weight loss drugs are not suitable for everyone. Only people who meet the following conditions should take weight loss drugs:

(1) Those whose weight exceeds the normal range by more than 20%. Only those whose weight reaches this standard are considered obese and need to lose weight. They can try weight loss drugs. If their weight is within the normal range, they should not believe in the wrong idea that "the thinner the better" and blindly use weight loss drugs.

(2) Obese patients. Strict diet control and exercise may initially show some improvement, but due to various reasons, patients are unable to maintain the regimen, leading to weight rebound. In such cases, medication can be used in conjunction with treatment.

(3) Some obese individuals with peptic ulcers. These individuals have difficulty controlling their diet, so appropriate medications may be used.

(4) Some people lose weight to a certain extent after diet control and physical exercise, but their weight rises again after six months. In this case, they can take weight loss drugs.

(5) Those who fail to lose weight by dieting can take weight loss drugs for treatment.

Drug selection

Today, the market is flooded with all sorts of weight-loss drugs. Faced with this endless array of products, consumers are often overwhelmed and unsure of what to do, often resorting to simply "following the advertisements." However, many advertisements deliberately exaggerate the facts to mislead consumers, so careful selection is essential.

Some medications may contain laxatives or diuretics, which can cause short-term weight loss, but also lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, resulting in symptoms such as dizziness, dry mouth, and fatigue. Furthermore, the weight loss effects of these medications are not long-lasting. The choice of weight loss medication is crucial to both effectiveness and safety. Because some appetite suppressants that were previously popular abroad, such as fenfluramine, have serious heart-damaging effects, they are now banned. Therefore, obese individuals must understand the ingredients and mechanisms of action of various medications when trying to lose weight. They must be extremely cautious in choosing any "mysterious" weight loss drugs and products on the market, taking a responsible attitude towards their health.

Timing of medication

Appetite suppressants can be used in obese adults and selected obese adolescents. They can be used when diet and exercise therapy are ineffective. Appetite suppressants reduce hunger and lead to rapid weight loss. In comprehensive treatment, if weight loss is not significant after adjusting the dosage or using the maximum tolerated dose of appetite suppressants for 3-4 weeks, treatment with these medications should be discontinued; if weight loss continues, they can be continued for a period of time.

Duration of medication

Some argue that appetite suppressants should only be used for a short period when diet control is ineffective, while others believe that appetite suppressants can be used for a longer period to maintain weight loss and prevent weight regain.

combination therapy

Most effective weight-loss drugs have varying degrees of adverse reactions, especially when used in high doses. Combining drugs with different mechanisms of action can enhance weight-loss efficacy, reduce drug dosage, and decrease the incidence of adverse reactions. For example, combining the appetite suppressant fenfluramine with phenbutylbromide, due to their different mechanisms of action on foraging behavior-fenfluramine enhances the serotonin system while phenbutylbromide enhances catecholamine activity-reduces the dosage of each drug while enhancing the appetite-suppressing effect. The weight-loss efficacy is comparable to using either drug at full doses alone, with fewer adverse reactions. Long-term use of cimetidine can lead to hyperinsulinemia, thus reducing its effectiveness with prolonged use. Combining it with insulin sensitizers such as troglitazone or metformin can correct these adverse effects and enhance efficacy. Combining traditional Chinese medicine weight-loss drugs with low-dose appetite suppressants, such as rhubarb tablets with a low dose of fenfluramine (10-20 mg daily), can reduce the incidence of adverse reactions and achieve good weight-loss results.

Medication for special populations

Adolescents are in a stage of growth and development, and medication must be prescribed only after a rigorous diagnosis, with close monitoring during medication use. Some studies suggest that fenfluramine, cimetidine, growth hormone, and low-dose thyroid hormone treatment for childhood obesity generally do not affect growth and development. Appetite suppressants are contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation, as they may affect fetal development and infant growth; other weight-loss drugs are also not recommended. Furthermore, obese individuals with heart disease, hypertension, or fatty liver should exercise caution when choosing weight-loss drugs.

Drug interactions

Theoretically, most appetite suppressants can raise blood pressure and affect the effects of antihypertensive drugs. However, the interference of commonly used doses of appetite suppressants on the effects of general antihypertensive drugs is not clinically significant. Nevertheless, blood pressure should be monitored weekly during the first 4–6 weeks of treatment. Concomitant use of appetite suppressants with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) can lead to a hypertensive crisis; therefore, appetite suppressants are contraindicated in patients who have used any MAOIs within the past two weeks.

Do a good job in medication monitoring

Before and during medication, biochemical indicators such as weight, blood sugar, and blood lipids must be monitored, and the dosage adjusted accordingly. Once medication is started, do not stop arbitrarily, as this may cause discomfort or weight rebound. The dosage should be gradually increased until discontinued. Specific procedures should be followed under the guidance of a doctor.