Prescription diet pills

[scuba]

I was recently placed on prescription diet pills, Adipex to assist me in loosing about 50 lbs or so. I'm 5'10" and weigh about 246 and it seems like there is a popular opinion out there that this is taking the easy way, despite me getting on the old treadmill just like the person running beside me without the drug....truth of the matter is, I don't get any medal for weight loss the easy way or the hard way. The pills were explained to be by my Doctor prescribing them as a way to kick off the weight loss. I have seen results and used as a appetite supressant I find myself eating smaller portions and we can all agree that that is the crux of weight loss combined with exercise.

My interest in the issue is related to drugs to treat cessation of smoking, even alcohol abuse is looked at differently and seen as an aide, where drugs to help weight loss is seen as the easy way. I would even go as far as saying that surgeries for weight loss is seen in a better light than diet pills. Certainly diet pills do indeed have some serious side effects but so can surgeries like the lab band and gastric bypass. I would contend that even open heart has a better success rate/infection rate but don't have a link or stats to support that.

I have most certainly heard of the safety issues related to the various weight loss drugs, truth of the matter is we take a risk taking any drug, even tylenol or motrin. We have heard all the talk about phen-phen and the combination drugs removal from the FDA approval lists, however the drug is still available overseas to ther best of my knowelge. One would expect that many of the users of the drug might have had underlying issues prior to taking the meds, thus blaming the condition on the drug instead of obesity itself, after all it wasn't long distance runners that needed to take the medications.

One thing I do believe in and I'm not a significant conspiracy theorist however the FDA is a govement office with lobbists, lobbists that does infact represent drug companies. You can go to any doctor in the world and he will perscribe one drug to treat a condition where another would treat the condition with another.......so It is conceivable to see how a drug could be removed from the FDA approval list with the nudging from lobbists representing drug company b, hoping to get there new drug out.........My $.02 cents...what do you think?

 

[Jenvenza]

Who cares what everyone else thinks? If diet pills work for you, then so be it! Who cares if some call it the easy way out?

What you and your doctor choose to do is between you two. No one else.

 

[MizTink]

i wish my doc would prescribe diet pills. i ask every time i'm in the office, but he always refuses
and believe me, i am WAY fat enough to justify using them!!!

 

[scuba]

Who cares what everyone else thinks? If diet pills work for you, then so be it! Who cares if some call it the easy way out?

What you and your doctor choose to do is between you two. No one else.

Just trying to create discussion, get peoples thoughts, see if anyone had been on the drug, get feedback for those that have lost weight the hard way, hear from the folks with lab bands and gastric bypasses. I'm certainly not discussing any infections or the like. I have done a fair amount of research and wanted to compare notes.

 

[scuba]

Who cares what everyone else thinks? If diet pills work for you, then so be it! Who cares if some call it the easy way out?

What you and your doctor choose to do is between you two. No one else.

One other thing, I have found myself involved in various heated discussions that at one time or another had been debated on ad nauseum in the past...If this is the case with my new thread then I apoligize....scuba

 

[VillageMama]

My twelve year old, 95 pound dear daughter is on Topomax for migraines. The neurologist warned me that this medication often causes weight loss.

I told him I felt a headache coming on!

My Skinny Minnie daughter gets a prescription that causes weight loss and here I am on the urban rebounder:

Good luck to you, Scuba! That's awesome that you are taking charge of your health. You do what you gotta do, hon!

 

[Carly_Roach]

I was recently placed on prescription diet pills, Adipex to assist me in loosing about 50 lbs or so. I'm 5'10" and weigh about 246 and it seems like there is a popular opinion out there that this is taking the easy way, despite me getting on the old treadmill just like the person running beside me without the drug....truth of the matter is, I don't get any medal for weight loss the easy way or the hard way. The pills were explained to be by my Doctor prescribing them as a way to kick off the weight loss. I have seen results and used as a appetite supressant I find myself eating smaller portions and we can all agree that that is the crux of weight loss combined with exercise.

My interest in the issue is related to drugs to treat cessation of smoking, even alcohol abuse is looked at differently and seen as an aide, where drugs to help weight loss is seen as the easy way. I would even go as far as saying that surgeries for weight loss is seen in a better light than diet pills. Certainly diet pills do indeed have some serious side effects but so can surgeries like the lab band and gastric bypass. I would contend that even open heart has a better success rate/infection rate but don't have a link or stats to support that.

I have most certainly heard of the safety issues related to the various weight loss drugs, truth of the matter is we take a risk taking any drug, even tylenol or motrin. We have heard all the talk about phen-phen and the combination drugs removal from the FDA approval lists, however the drug is still available overseas to ther best of my knowelge. One would expect that many of the users of the drug might have had underlying issues prior to taking the meds, thus blaming the condition on the drug instead of obesity itself, after all it wasn't long distance runners that needed to take the medications.

One thing I do believe in and I'm not a significant conspiracy theorist however the FDA is a govement office with lobbists, lobbists that does infact represent drug companies. You can go to any doctor in the world and he will perscribe one drug to treat a condition where another would treat the condition with another.......so It is conceivable to see how a drug could be removed from the FDA approval list with the nudging from lobbists representing drug company b, hoping to get there new drug out.........My $.02 cents...what do you think?

I'm really not sure what the discussion would be about. There are too many subjects.

You have people who think you're taking the easy way out. You have an argument or point about FDA approved lists. You've thrown in smoking cessation medication and finished up your post with lobbyists.



I'm with the second poster: your drugs are your business. If you want or need a diet pill, then that's your business. If it helps you, then I'm happy that it's helping you. But I don't believe it's necessary to get validation for your treatment from a single other person other than your doctor.

 

[scuba]

i wish my doc would prescribe diet pills. i ask every time i'm in the office, but he always refuses
and believe me, i am WAY fat enough to justify using them!!!

I had alot of my collegues get told the same thing by their MDs, I know that perscription drug abuse is at an all time high, I had another friend of mine tell me that their MD said...It's good old fashioned self-control and still refused to give her the medication.....I don't get it, in one breath we are told that obesity is the worst it has ever been but when there seems to be drugs out there that in the very least seem to help, then the MDs don't perscribe them

 

[nutterbutter2010]

You put it out there, so heres my opinion.

It isn't taking the easy way out, its taking the quick, wont work in the long run way out. Let me explain. Some people who get gastro lose the weight, and thats great, but all of the sudden develop an alc. or drug addiction. How is this possible - they never had any issues with it before?? The reason they turn to alc or drugs is because they have a problem with addiction . Before it was food, but now thats taken away from them, so they have to turn to something else. Its a mental issue that has to be delt with first, then you can heal the rest (i.e. lose the weight). This one reason good Drs. don't recommend it.

Personally, I don't know you, or if your a "food addict" so I don't know if this applies to you, but I can almost guarentee that if you take these pills, lose the weight, then go off the pills, the weight will come back 2x. Let me explain. One needs to learn good eating habits to lose weight (along with exercise of course). Right now, as far as I can tell, you seem to be eating what your normally eat, just less. Thats a start, but when you go off these pills, you'll keep eating what you have always been eating, and you'll go back to your original portions, because you really haven't learned anything.
I'm not telling you to stop taking the pills, but perhaps you should also go to a nutritionalist to learn a healthy way to eat. Its not a diet, its a way of life, but with these pills.... its a quick fix that will get you in the end.


Good luck.

 

[scuba]

You put it out there, so heres my opinion.

It isn't taking the easy way out, its taking the quick way, that wont work in the long run way out. Let me explain. Some people who get gastro lose the weight, and thats great, but all of the sudden start an alc. or drug addiction. How is this possible - they never had any issues with it before?? The reason they turn to alc or drugs is because they have a problem with addiction in general. Before it was with food, but thats now taken away from them, so they have to turn to something else. Its a mental problem that has to be delt with first, then you can heal the rest (i.e. lose the weight).

Personally, I don't know if your a "food adict" so I don't know applies to you, but I can almost guarentee that if you take these pills, lose the weight, then go off the pills, the weight will come back on 2x. Let me explain. You need to learn good eating habits to lose weight (along with exercise of course). Right now, as far as I can tell, you seem to be eating what your normally eat, just less. So when you go off the pills, you'll keep eating what you have always been eating, and now you'll go back to your original portions, because you really haven't learned anything.
I'm not telling you to stop taking the pills, but perhaps you should also go to a nutritionalist to learn a healthy way to eat. Its not a diet, its a way of life, but with these pills.... its a quick fix that will get you in the end.


Good luck.

thanks for the insight, I have been eating less, for sure, however before you would never see me eating an apple. I watched folks walking out of my MD office on the same drug that i'm taking and know well that they feel this is a drug that could allow them to eat anything they want and just take a pill. I'm certainly not under the impression that would work for anyone.........I think that we have all seen some of those types. Doctor has also provided me alot of information on what you describe, alas we really know all of this that a well balanced meal is better than a stop at the drive thru. WE(family) seem to go through periods in our lives where we get too busy to get home and cook and instead elect to drive thru, then there are times where everything is great, better than great and we eat better for it.......I'm going out on a limb here, we actually eat better on vacation, especially at Disney, all the walking makes you feel great and you want to eat great and not hurt how you are feeling. It's once we get home the bad habits re-emerge. I work night shift, that seems to complicate things as well.

 

[nutterbutter2010]

thanks for the insight, I have been eating less, for sure, however before you would never see me eating an apple. I watched folks walking out of my MD office on the same drug that i'm taking and know well that they feel this is a drug that could allow them to eat anything they want and just take a pill. I'm certainly not under the impression that would work for anyone.........I think that we have all seen some of those types. Doctor has also provided me alot of information on what you describe, alas we really know all of this that a well balanced meal is better than a stop at the drive thru. WE(family) seem to go through periods in our lives where we get too busy to get home and cook and instead elect to drive thru, then there are times where everything is great, better than great and we eat better for it.......I'm going out on a limb here, we actually eat better on vacation, especially at Disney, all the walking makes you feel great and you want to eat great and not hurt how you are feeling. It's once we get home the bad habits re-emerge. I work night shift, that seems to complicate things as well.

Heres what I see in your post. First of all, I think you need to get yourself a new Dr. Hes giving these weight loss pills to people who, according to you, aren't really taking their weight loss seriously. As a medical professional, he should know the danger of giving these pills out to people like this. Its kind of reminding me of a Dr that gives his patients oxycontons because they have a "hurt back" or something, when he knows the oxycontons are for nothing but to get hammered. Yeah, this is an extreem example, but its how I see it.

Secondly, I see a lot of excuses in your post. Life gets busy, you work the night shift... SO WHAT? Where there is a will there is a way. I have a lot on my plate. I have a home, a husband, young children, a job out of the house, a small business that I run inside my house.... You have to make the time for you. It may be hard at first, but if you don't care for yourself, no one else will. Plan out meals in advance. Do research on what foods are good, and what foods are bad. I'm not saying that you have to join a gym, but if you have the means, DO IT. They all have very long hours, and some are even 24 hour, you get make it there 3x a week at some point.

Sorry if I'm preaching, or sound mean... I swear I'm a nice girl!!! I've just seen a lot in my life with weight loss. Peoples weights have a lot to do with how they preceve themselves - depression is a huge factor, and when people can do something to change it, but don't, its just really sad to me. I have relatives who are ALWAYS on a diet, yet somehow, just seem to get bigger and bigger. They don't want to put the effort in (for more than a week or two) and just end up getting deeper and deeper in. You can do it (and without the pills) you just have to be in the right frame of mind, and be prepared. Don't set yourself up for failure by "winging it", or trying to do it alone. Get a nutritionalist, or join a local Weight Watchers. You can do it, you just have to want it.


No treat tastes as good as being healthy (and thin) feels.

 

[scuba]

Heres what I see in your post. First of all, I think you need to get yourself a new Dr. Hes giving these weight loss pills to people who, according to you, aren't really taking their weight loss seriously. As a medical professional, he should know the danger of giving these pills out to people like this. Its kind of reminding me of a Dr that gives his patients oxycontons because they have a "hurt back" or something, when he knows the oxycontons are for nothing but to get hammered. Yeah, this is an extreem example, but its how I see it.

Secondly, I see a lot of excuses in your post. Life gets busy, you work the night shift... SO WHAT? Where there is a will there is a way. I have a lot on my plate. I have a home, a husband, young children, a job out of the house, a small business that I run inside my house.... You have to make the time for you. It may be hard at first, but if you don't care for yourself, no one else will. Plan out meals in advance. Do research on what foods are good, and what foods are bad. I'm not saying that you have to join a gym, but if you have the means, DO IT. They all have very long hours, and some are even 24 hour, you get make it there 3x a week at some point.

Sorry if I'm preaching, or sound mean... I swear I'm a nice girl!!! I've just seen a lot in my life with weight loss. I have relatives who are ALWAYS on a diet, yet somehow, just seem to get bigger and bigger. They don't want to put the effort in (for more than a week or two) but want the results - not going to happen. You can do it (and without the pills) you just have to be in the right frame of mind, and be prepared. Don't set yourself up for failure by winging it, or trying to do it alone. Get a nutritionalist, or join a local Weight Watchers. You can do it, you just have to want it.


No treat tastes as good as being healthy (and thin) feels.

No, your not sounding mean at all,nor preaching, I'm a big boy this is what I wanted...nuts and bolts discussion on it.

Do wou feel that weight loss drugs are any different than drugs to help some one stop smoking? because this is where I see the difference in attitudes, your principles behind wanting to do it, and right frame of mind could also be applied to folks wishing to stop smoking. Some folks have different types of will power and personalities. certainly under the right conditions aids like meds can be infact beneficial.

I ran 3 miles yesterday on the treadmill at the Y, I just set the machinne at 5 and just trodded away, so I'm certainly not just thinking a pill will make everything better. it is an aid and not a crutch, now the folks that are on the medicines using them as crutch and i'm certain that what you predicted certainly might come true. I agree with you that my MD putting folks on meds knowing they lack the desire, I see that but i'm certainlyt not prevy to their situation...you just see it in them.

 

[nutterbutter2010]

No, your not sounding mean at all,nor preaching, I'm a big boy this is what I wanted...nuts and bolts discussion on it.

Do wou feel that weight loss drugs are any different than drugs to help some one stop smoking? because this is where I see the difference in attitudes, your principles behind wanting to do it, and right frame of mind could also be applied to folks wishing to stop smoking. Some folks have different types of will power and personalities. certainly under the right conditions aids like meds can be infact beneficial.

I ran 3 miles yesterday on the treadmill at the Y, I just set the machinne at 5 and just trodded away, so I'm certainly not just thinking a pill will make everything better. it is an aid and not a crutch, now the folks that are on the medicines using them as crutch and i'm certain that what you predicted certainly might come true. I agree with you that my MD putting folks on meds knowing they lack the desire, I see that but i'm certainlyt not prevy to their situation...you just see it in them.

Nope, I think its the same thing. They both may be a place to start, but thats it. And if you become dependent on these drugs, you'll just fall back to where you came from, and for the weight loss, you fall back and find yourself 20lbs heavier probably!!

 

[pearlieq]

I have 2 friends now that are taking prescription weight loss drugs. My observations so far:

1.) You can totally tell they're on uppers. Their personality/behavior has changed and they're experiencing side effects like insomnia.

2.) Each has lost about 10% of their body weight and then stalled out for the last 3-4 months.

3.) Neither one seems especially committed to life-long clean living. They've made some changes, but nothing that dramatic. I don't have high hopes for the weight staying off after they stop the pills.

I realize not everyone is the same, but my up close and personal look at their prescription weight loss drug regimens leaves me unimpressed. I don't think this is any kind of miracle cure.

 

[ChrizJen]

OP, I see what you're saying and I get your point. Issues with food addiction are often seen as different from other addictions, somehow more negative and shameful than issues with drugs or alcohol. It does seem far more acceptable to use aids to quit smoking/drinking than it does to lose weight.

It seems unfair, but the fact is they are fundamentally different. With any addiction, the behavior has to be modified in order to conquer the addiction. That part is the same. The biggest difference is that with drugs/alcohol, you can remove yourself from the temptation for the most part. You can use aids to help curb the need while training yourself to stay out of situations where you might be tempted to smoke or drink or use drugs. Once you've trained yourself to stay away from the "bad stuff", you can stop using the aid, and be perfectly sucessful. But with food it's different. We need food to live. So the temptation is always there, in your face. There's no way to remove yourself from it. It really does have to be a total overhaul of the way you live your life. Unfortunately, there is no "quick fix" when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off. You have to literally start from the beginning, and retrain yourself how to use food as nourishment for your body and nothing else. And in many cases, that involves getting counseling to work out the reasons you use food. If there are underlying emotional issues that contribute to a food addiction (and there usually are), then you'll need to work on those while you're learning how to eat.

OP, regardless of how you go about it, good for you for taking the steps to be healthier!! And good luck on your journey!

 

[nutterbutter2010]

OP, I see what you're saying and I get your point. Issues with food addiction are often seen as different from other addictions, somehow more negative and shameful than issues with drugs or alcohol. It does seem far more acceptable to use aids to quit smoking/drinking than it does to lose weight.

It seems unfair, but the fact is they are fundamentally different. With any addiction, the behavior has to be modified in order to conquer the addiction. That part is the same. The biggest difference is that with drugs/alcohol, you can remove yourself from the temptation for the most part. You can use aids to help curb the need while training yourself to stay out of situations where you might be tempted to smoke or drink or use drugs. Once you've trained yourself to stay away from the "bad stuff", you can stop using the aid, and be perfectly sucessful. But with food it's different. We need food to live. So the temptation is always there, in your face. There's no way to remove yourself from it. It really does have to be a total overhaul of the way you live your life. Unfortunately, there is no "quick fix" when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off. You have to literally start from the beginning, and retrain yourself how to use food as nourishment for your body and nothing else. And in many cases, that involves getting counseling to work out the reasons you use food. If there are underlying emotional issues that contribute to a food addiction (and there usually are), then you'll need to work on those while you're learning how to eat.

OP, regardless of how you go about it, good for you for taking the steps to be healthier!! And good luck on your journey!

Thats exactly what I said.... I just didn't say it as well!!

 

[scuba]

Nope, I think its the same thing. They both may be a place to start, but thats it. And if you become dependent on these drugs, you'll just fall back to where you came from, and for the weight loss, you fall back and find yourself 20lbs heavier probably!!

That is my plan, to be on them temporary, alot of folks started out things with good intentions......addicted to food? I'm not certain, I suppose I could be. Seriously I have been told I eat WAY to fast, and it seems like I eat prior to feeling hungry. In addition when I do order something it seems like I order too much, Thinking I'm REALLY hungry. In fact I would suppose there isn't a difference between hungry and really hungry. Your just hungry. I have often thought, well maybe I should order extra, and before I know I I've eaten TOO much. It's like I eat too fast and My stomach hasn't the time to tell my brain to stop eating....oh crap, i'm no different than a horse, eating myself to death....so far cholesterol and blood pressure seems to be in check, and pants size is still 38 on a good day.

 

[DISNEY1975]

I was on Phen/phen years and years ago. I didnt feel good taking them and stopped within a couple of weeks.

About 7 years ago, a friend told me about Xenedrine. OMG. It was a magic pill. I lost 60 lbs and was down to a size 4...my goal for all 5'4" of me. I stopped taking it and my husband apparently thought I looked very good because with a 13 and 10 year old, I became pregnant again! I gained about 80 lbs thru the pregnancy. I think it was a combo of being off the pills and, of course, being pregnant. As soon as I gave birth, I ran to GNC to get more Xenedrine and was told they had been banned from the US about 6 months earlier.

I would love to get my hands on another magic pill to lose about 30 lbs, but my point to you is, keep up with your exercise and good food habits because the pill will only do good while you are taking it, and its not something you want to be on forever. I have never seen anyone come off a diet pill and not gain weight back.

I cant speak for your pill, but I dont think diet pills are addictive. I easily went off of mine. The only reason I want to take them again is to lose weight, not the extra boost of energy it gave me.

Good Luck! Keep us updated if your pills work. It may be something I can ask my own Dr. about.

 

[VillageMama]

The only reason I want to take them again is to lose weight, not the extra boost of energy it gave me.

You lost weight and had extra energy?? I would kill for a pill that did that... safely.

Isn't it a shame that researchers can create medications to treat all sorts of conditions... what an enormous blessing... yet they can't seem to create one that reduces appetitite and/or burns fat without serious side effects?

Don't get me wrong... I'll keep on giving weight loss and fitness all my effort... but it would be so nice to be given a little help.