Dangers of Diet Pills — What Are They?
The dangers of diet pills are like the dangers of anything we take these days — possible for anyone, probable only if you take too much. It’s hard to tell in advance if you’re sensitive to an ingredient, or combination of ingredients, if you’ve never taken them before.
Now just about everyone has heard about ephedra — how there were some deaths from cardiac failure. It was pulled from the US markets, and rightly so. Because (I think) that while the herb itself wasn’t deadly (it’s been used hundreds of years in China), the amounts in the pills and capsules were way too much.
And because ephedra was a supplement and not under FDA jurisdiction (not prescription-only), the potential for abuse was high.
Most of the weight loss supplements are relatively benign these days. The caffeine in many can cause jitters if you’re not used to it. Some pills really, really do need to be taken with a full glass of water. Why? In at least one case I’ve heard about, the capsules were taken with a swallow of water and didn’t make it all the way to the stomach before it started dissolving. That was a pretty painful lesson.
If you’re allergic to shellfish, carefully check the ingredients to see if any sort of shellfish are included — hint, even in the capsule itself, as opposed to ingredients.
Please, please, please, stay within the suggested dosage limits on the package. Don’t think that if one is great that two would be even better. Remember what I said about ephedra and the too-high levels.
Know the possible side effects before you take the weight loss supplements, and keep an eye out for them. If you even think you may possibly be having a side effect, stop taking it immediately.
Oh, and one thing about ordering banned or prescription-only drugs from overseas — don’t do it. Your life and health are more important, even if you do need to lose a substantial amount of weight. And if you really do need to lose a lot of weight, your doctor may very well write you a legal prescription.
The dangers of diet pills are real, but most are pretty safe when taken as directed, in the amounts specified. Still, it’s up to you to also know possible side effects, and heed them.
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