Prescription Fat Burners

From LoveToKnow Diet

Prescription fat burners are drugs available from your doctor designed to help you lose weight. If you’ve tried everything under the sun to lose those extra pounds, your doctor may prescribe a prescription diet pill to help your body absorb less fat from the food you eat. Getting a prescription for a weight loss pill is not an excuse to avoid exercise and eat poorly. Whether you decide to get a fat burner or not, you still need to eat right and exercise regularly.

Who Needs Prescription Diet Pills?

If you just need to lose a few pounds, prescription fat burners aren’t for you. They are powerful drugs and shouldn’t be used in a recreational manner or to cure a minor weight problem. Doctors prescribe them only if the risks of taking the medication are outweighed by the risks of the person staying at their current weight.

Here are the groups of people eligible for using prescription weight loss drugs, according to WebMd.com:

A person with a BMI of over 30
A person with a BMI of over 27 who is experiencing weight related problems

If you fall into one of these categories, speak with your doctor about a possible prescription medication to assist you with weight loss.

What Are Prescription Fat Burners?

There are two main categories of prescription weight loss drugs: appetite suppressants and fat blockers/burners. The first category works by reducing your natural hunger signals so that you’ll automatically lose weight. Fat blockers reduce the amount of fat your body absorbs and help your body rid itself of fat quicker. Currently no prescription medications speed up your metabolism.

Right now the only fat inhibiting prescription drug available is Xenical (also called Orlistat). Xenical is FDA approved and it works by blocking approximately 30 percent of the fat eaten. The fat is carried through your system and eliminated with the rest of your waste.

Orlistat is the prescription name for the drug. Orlistat is typically prescribed in three 120 mg doses per day. The estimated costs of the drug without insurance are $132 to $380 for a 30 day supply. Your costs may vary based on your prescription coverage plan. Considering these costs is important since some insurance programs don’t cover prescription weight loss drugs.

Xenical is also available in a non-prescription form under the name Alli. Alli is an over the counter drug that reduces fat absorption at a lower level than Orlistat. Just like with the prescription version, Alli needs to be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Side Effects Of Prescription Diet Pills

As with all prescription drugs, fat burners aren’t without their side effects. The main side effects of taking Orlistat are:

abdominal cramping
oily bowel movements
bloating
abdominal pain

In addition, Orlistat reduces the absorption of fat soluble vitamins A and D. When you start taking the drug, your doctor will also suggest taking additional daily vitamins to compensate for the loss of vitamin absorption. It’s important to take the drug exactly as it’s prescribed. Taking too much can lead to overdose, which is very dangerous to your health. If you are experiencing any of these signs of overdose, call your doctor immediately:

Decreased ability to exercise
Chest pain
Swelling in the feet or lower legs
Problems with breathing

Lifestyle Changes

Prescription fat burners are meant to be a short term solution to a problem in your eating and exercise habits. It’s imperative that you also make changes to your lifestyle to support a healthy weight. Eventually you’ll need to go off the drugs and won’t have the support from the pills to reduce your fat intake.

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