One of the most popular ways of losing weight and getting rid of that fat these days is by taking weight loss pills. Unlike exercise and diet regimens, they offer a faster effective way of losing weight without changing usual eating habits.

There are several weight loss supplement pills that you can select from. These go from prescription drugs manufactured synthetically to natural products that are supposed to offer a safer alternative for the same effects.

But even natural weight loss pills can still have side effects. In some people side effects of weight loss pills resulted in severe reactions that can be extremely dangerous to their health.

To ensure that your health won’t be endangered in any way, always discuss everything with your doctor first, no matter if you are taking prescription or natural weight loss pills . Particularly if you have any other health issues that need to be discussed.

No matter what type of pill or product, natural or synthetic, you plan to take to lose weight, you really should discuss it with your doctor first. Ensure that your health won’t be endangered in any way. In particular, if you have any other health issues that need to be discussed, do so with a doctor before trying out the latest weight loss pills by yourself. If possible, bring a sample of the weight loss pills you are planning to take for your doctor to examine. They usually list the ingredients in their containers which may help the doctor spot any potential dangers to your health if you take them. Make sure to discuss allergies if you have any.

Anyway, you are going to have to go through your doctor with prescription drugs, so it would be a wise decision to talk about all the alternatives before deciding on what’s best for you.

So, you ask: Do weight loss pills work? Weight loss capsules can be highly effective when the right one is chosen for the patient. Many people have had outstanding results in burning fat in a relatively short time when they find a weight loss pill that suits their metabolism. On the other hand there have been many people who have had considerable problems with the weight loss capsules that they have been using. Either prescription or natural, some weight loss capsules just aren’t suitable for them. Just as we have different tendencies toward weight gain or weight loss, we also have different reactions to different weight loss pills .

The key is finding the most effective weight loss pills that works for you. Just remember to stay safe. Always see the doctor first. It isn’t worth putting your life at risk just to lose weight, but with perseverance and the right weight loss pill, you would be improving your life by getting rid of that fat once and for all.

The pharmaceutical companies who manufacture weight loss pills are enjoying a boom time at the moment feeding off the desperation of a populus that is increasing in weight year after year.

Sales of prescribed weight loss pills and over the counter variants are going through the roof since the health scares surrounding types of this product caused it to be removed from circulation during the late 1990s. Links to heart valve disease were something of a death nail to the weight loss pill market.

Nowadays, the weight loss pill is experiencing a renaissance. According to the pharmaceutical companies these weight loss pills are made completely of natural ingredients and are no longer of risk but yet they are still dogged by health issues.

Weight loss pills can be either prescribed or bought over the counter and the difference between the two are briefly highlighted here:

Prescription Weight Loss Pills:

Weight loss pills that are prescribed are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration agency. These pills have been monitored and scrutinized by the administration prior to use by the general public and as such are deemed the safer option.

The most popular of these is Xenical which works by reducing the amount of fat consumed by the body by 30 %. Unfortunately, Xenical is still dogged by side effects that include passing gas, abdominal cramping, increased number of bowel movements, leakage of oily stool and a loss of total control over bowel movements.

Over-the-Counter Weight Loss Pills:

The temptation to use over-the-counter weight-loss pills is often irresistible and the fact that many are not regulated warrants the question, are these products safe?

There are many pharmaceutical companies cashing in on the revived weight loss pill market and this is mirrored by the myriad of products available. Here is a shortlist of products, their claims and what you need to know:

1 Hoodia:

Possibly one of the better known products, claims to decrease appetite substantially.

Verdict: No conclusive evidence to support any of their claims.

2. Alli:

Reduces fat absorption by the intestines. A lesser strength variant of Xenical.

Verdict: As one of the few FDA approved over the counter weight loss pills it has the benefit of backing to substantiate its weight loss claims.

3. Guar gum:

Stops absorption of fat and suppresses appetite.

Verdict: Unlikely to cause weight loss, can cause gastrointestinal problems.

4.Green tea extract: Much revered in certain circles as it is claimed to increase metabolism

Verdict: Limited supportive evidence.

There are literally hundreds more all with relatively the same verdict. There is one resounding factor that all of these weight loss pills have in common. They all state that they are more effective when used in conjunction with a diet and a exercise routine.

If you decide to use a weight loss pill and follow its instruction to use a diet and an exercise program isn’t that hiding whether or not the tablet is effective or not?

Personally, I would forget the weight loss pill and look for an effective weight loss plan that will:

1. NOT tell me to go on a low calorie diet yet still provide me with fast but sustained weight loss

2. NOT put my health at risk

3. NOT cost a fortune

4. NOT be difficult to keep up

Never take diet drugs if pregnancy is suspected or if you are allergic to sulfites and tartrazine. Individuals under 18 or over 60 should consult their doctor prior to taking weight loss pills

Weight loss pills have become popular in the past several years. There are two basic types of diet pills or weight loss pills – â??prescriptionâ?? and â??non-prescriptionâ?? pills.
Prescription Pills :

Prescription weight loss pills are treated like drugs. They require FDA approval and are closely regulated. Some examples of this type of weight loss pills are Xenical (Orlistat), Meridia (Sibutramine) and Phentermine/ Fentermine. To prove their effectiveness in weight reduction, these pills are subjected to a range of clinical tests typically for monitoring health risks and side effects.
Non Prescription Pills

The Non-prescription weight loss pills are also called as weight loss supplements. These drugs can be purchased over the counter as they are subjected to minimal FDA regulation only. Some examples of this type of weight loss pills include pills from Metabolifeâ?¢ and Herbalifeâ?¢ as well as fat-burners, herbal weight loss pills, stackers, other sports or diet supplements.

The difference between prescription and non-prescription weight loss pills is becoming narrower. Since some types of non-prescription pills can be just as powerful or dangerous as weight loss drugs. Exception is that these types of weight loss supplements are not regulated similar to prescription weight loss pills. Hence they can be more dangerous if anything. The FDA has issued warnings recently about weight loss supplements that contain ephedra. Hence, many drug manufacturers are now declaring as â??ephedra-freeâ?? by removing ephedra from their weight loss pills.
Who can benefit from Weight Loss Pills?

Prescription weight loss pills are designed specifically for the treatment of obesity rather than mere weight loss. Despite health risks and side effects, the use of weight loss pills is justified, as obesity is a serious condition associated with serious health risks. Weight loss supplements or Non-prescription weight loss pills should be viewed in similar light.
Do these Weight Loss Pills work?

The answer is both Yes and No. With a proper exercise program and diet in conjunction with medical supervision, weight loss pills or weight loss supplements can be effective in the short term at least. However the benefits may quickly wear off as the body adjusts rather quickly to many weight loss pills.
Weight Loss Trials of Pills clinically:

Clinical weight loss trials demonstrate that by using weight loss pills alone, long term weight control is not possible. A combination of improved diet and physical activity is to be maintained in the long term to maintain weight loss successfully.
Consult your doctor before taking weight loss pills:

You should obtain information from your doctor about the possible dangers and side effects of weight loss pills before taking any weight loss pills.
Side Effects of taking weight loss pills:

Weight loss pills become less effective as time progresses like most drugs and can lead to addiction. If you feel any of the following side effects, taking the pills should be stopped immediately.

Irritability

Anxiety or nervousness

High blood pressure

Insomnia

Heart palpitations and Heart attack

Tightness in the chest

Vomiting, constipation or constant stomach pain

Diarrhea, Fever and Head aches

Dry mouth

Dizziness

Profuse sweating

Blurred vision

Hair loss

Urinary tract problems

Disturbances in sex drive and menstrual cycle.

The long-term effects of these weight loss pills are not known and how they interact with other medications is also not clear.