The medical world created quite a stir when the magic of diet pills intervened and successfully reported 5 to 10% of body weight loss! These pills though considered phenomenal in the weight reduction program yet they are meant only for short term usage and are used in conjunction with diet restriction and exercise. In all, prescription diet pills are not stand alones in weight loss management and to understand their basic nature we will have to study the basic nature of anorectic drugs.

Let's take the case of Bontril as popularly known!

What is Bontril?

* Bontril is a sympathomimetic amine class of drugs much like amphetamines. It is also known as "anorectic" or "anorexigenic" drugn stimulating the central nervous system (nerves and the brain) which increases the blood pressure and heart rate, thereby, causing a decrease in the appetite.

* Bontril diet pills are used only for short term and are recommended or prescribed by a doctor along with balanced food and exercise.

* Bontril cannot be taken by people with certain health conditions. They are:

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Arteriosclerosis
• Glaucoma
• Thyroid problems
• Diabetes
• Anxiety disorders
• Seizures or epilepsy
• Pregnant women
• Breast-feeding mothers
• Drug or alcohol abuse

* The side effects of Bontril diet pills may vary from normal to severe, depending on the effect of the medicine on the body and follow-up with the doctor to check the progress of the pill on the body and weight loss. Tolerance to this medicine must be avoided at all costs as this might trigger the severe health risks to the body. The side effects could be:

• Dizziness
• Restlessness
• Blurred vision
• Chest pains
• Gastrointestinal troubles etc.

Bontril or phendimetrazine tablets are taken only if the doctor has given a clear certificate on the health check up. Usually health risks that are associated with this class of drugs can be avoided if the following precautions are followed.

Always consult your doctor before taking weight loss pills. Ask about health risks.

Follow instructions, do not overdose. The health risks of overdosing on weight loss pills can be severe.

While taking the pills, maintain contact with your doctor. Describe any side-effects.

Unless advised by your doctor, do not take any weight loss pills for longer than a few weeks. The health risks of weight loss pills increase with length of use.

When buying over-the-counter weight loss medications, check with your pharmacist that the pills do not clash with other medications. Since certain diet pills contain similar active ingredients to (e.g. decongestants, cough medicine), combining certain medications with weight loss pills carries health risks of accidental overdosing.

Conclusion

Drug therapy in weight loss program is always used along with exercise regimen and diet control. It is an ongoing struggle and therefore used only in extreme cases of obesity with a BMI over 30. There is no magic in reaching ideal or dream weight and these exist only in utopian fantasy! The only way of dealing with obesity is having a strong support system to help one fight the battle with patience and sincerity.