Over The Counter Diet Pills (OTC)

Over-the-counter diet (OTC) pills can be found at your local pharmacy or accredited commercial drugstore. These diet pills are easily available because it does not need any prescription from a physician. Therefore, it is safe to take. All you have to do is to follow the dosage in its packaging.

There are wide arrays of OTC diet pills available for purchase. Though you can buy it easily, you must know what kinds are available, and ask your pharmacist what are its active ingredients and its possible side effects.
The preceding sections describe some of the most common ingredients of OTC diet pills.

St John’s Wort

Recent studies revealed that St. John’s Wort could increase serotonin levels and treat mild depression. If you come across an OTC diet pill and you are not suffering from depression-related weight gain, it will be of no help in your weight loss goal.

Pyruvate

It helps you lose some pounds. It can boost your body metabolism and suppress your appetite.

Guarana

Its effect in weight loss is due to its high content of caffeine. It can successfully decrease your appetite. Nevertheless, remember that its active ingredient is caffeine, which can cause temporary rise in metabolic rate. You can also prefer coffee instead.

Phenylpropanolamine (PPA)

It is one of the active ingredients found in OTC diet pills. Studies show that it really helps to increase your weight loss. However, taking more than the prescribed dosage can cause high blood pressure, stroke, and irregular heartbeat.

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has now prohibited the use of PPA in over the counter medicines due to hazardous side effects.

Chitosan/Chitin

It is made from a starch (chitin) that usually came from the shells of shrimp and other shellfish. Studies show that it is not enough to promote weight loss. On the other hand, its effect can only be materialized when combined with a healthy diet and increased physical activity. Once overdosed, it can cause constipation and bloating.

Ephedra

It is considered thermogenic, which means it could increase your body’s ability to stock up heat and burn calories. It works as a weight loss agent by increasing your body’s metabolism as well as your heart rate and blood pressure. Since it can trigger stroke and heart attacks, most of diet pill manufacturers have already phased out their products that has ephedra due to its negative side effects.

Synephrine

It is the active ingredient of bitter orange. It is also considered thermogenic. What makes it different from ephedra is that it does not affect your heart.

Though much safer from ephedra, synephrine, once interacted with other herbal ingredients, can result in potency increase and absorption rate. It might produce similar negative effects to those weight loss pills with ephedra.

Dangers of Over-the-Counter Pills

Since these OTC diet pills can be purchased without prescription, you might think that it is tested and safe for use. However, there are still bogus versions of such pills that are not thoroughly checked by pharmacist because it bears the same packaging just like the original one. Another is that there are active ingredients that you do not know what will be the effect on your health.

So what is the appropriate action that you can do to avoid such health mishaps?

First, it will not be hard for you to ask some help from a dietician or a doctor. They can help you choosing the OTC diet pills that will suit you. Ask them if what pills are right for you in case you have other body ailments.
 
Second, check the packaging of these pills. Make sure that it is sealed and contains the necessary information such as recommended dosage, active ingredients, nutritional value, and the manufacturer’s name and office address. It will help you to identify its source. You can also use it as substantial evidence in case you felt different using it.

Lastly, make sure that the diet pills are registered in the pharmacy’s list of authorized supplements.

Responsible drug stores are always checking the merchandise they are selling. It is an act of adherence to the federal law.

Over-the-counter diet pills will help you loss weight if proper procedures were followed. Not only your weight is at stake here. It is also your overall health as well.