Diet pills prescription

With the high prevalence and steady increase in overweight and obesity in the United States comes a steady increase in the use of various diet supplements, including both nonprescription and prescription diet pills. 

Phenylropanolamine was initially believed to have a very low risk of side effects, and the FDA allowed it to be available over the counter, without a prescription. After some time, phenylpropanolamine became the active ingredient in many nonprescription diet pills, such as Acutrim , Dexatrim , and Protrim. Early studies demonstrated that the drug s main side effect was an increase in energy that sometimes led to insomnia or agitation. 

This book has examined how diet pills work and which herbal and prescription products are most commonly used for weight loss. Disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and body dysmorphic syndrome may lead someone to abuse both over-the-counter and prescription diet pills. There are health and legal ramifications of diet pill abuse that are ignored or not even realized when abuse is taking place. 

Abuse of diet pills is a problem not only due to the concern about the health effects, but also because laws can be broken in the process. Obviously, it is easier to abuse drugs that are more readily available—for example, an over-the-counter laxative— but it can be surprisingly easy to obtain diet pills that require a prescription. .. if one is willing to risk the dangers of dealing with the black market. ... 

Do not take any other medications without first checking with me. These medications include over-the-counter medicines bought without prescription, such as cold tablets, nose drops, cough medicine, and diet pills. 

United States Congress passes Controlled Substance Act (CSA). CS A puts strict controls on the production, import, and prescription of amphetamines. Many amphetamine forms, particularly diet pills, are removed from the over-the-counter market. 

A prescription was needed for amphetamines, but people who were dependent on these drugs found ways to get them legally. They went to doctors who would continue to write refill prescriptions for amphetamine diet pills. Another option was to go to more than one doctor. People also went to diet clinics or found pharmacists who did not ask for a prescription. 

Prescription diet pills are not recommended for people who are slightly overweight. 

Most prescription diet pills are prescribed for shortterm use of not more than several months. Sibutramine and orlistat have been prescribed for longer use in the treatment of significantly obese people. For both medications, this treatment ranged from six months to one year. The safety and effectiveness of use for longer than one year have not been determined. 

Spending for prescription diet pills reached a record of approximately 467 million in 1996, according to the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, an association focused on weight loss. Fen-phen sales accounted for much of that record. After the withdrawal of dexfenlu-ramine and fenfluramine from the market, diet pill sales dropped. 

In 1998, prescription diet pill sales totaled 169.2 million for January through November. IMS Health Inc. charted sales trends that showed 1.1 million prescriptions filled for Meridia, 351,000 prescriptions for Ion-amin, and 341,000 Adipex-P prescriptions. Prescriptions for other diet pills totaled 4.5 million. 

Other diet pills. Other diet pills are classified in various ways. Orlistat (Xenical) is not classified as a controlled substance. A prescription is required. 

Penalties. Federal law prohibits the possession, use, and distribution of illegal drugs. This law applies to diet pills obtained without a prescription. The Controlled Substances Act established tighter controls on the manufacture and distribution of drugs like diet pills. Limits were set on the amounts of Schedule II pills that could be manufactured. 

The two best-known prescription diet pills being sold today are sibutramine (brand name Meridia) and orlistat (Xenical). Sibutramine is an appetite suppressant. Orlistat prevents the intestines from absorbing fat. Other medications exist, but they are less common, and people are only supposed to use them for short periods of time. 

Mitchell, Deborah R., and David Dodson. The Diet Pill Book A Consumer s Guide to Prescription and Over-the-Counter Weight-Loss Pills and Supplements. New York St. Martin s Griffin, 2002. 

Before leaving the discussion on prescription-drug misuse and abuse, we should note that a variety of over-the-counter substances with psychoactivc properties are also subject to abuse. Examples are nonprescription hypnotics that contain antihistamines, nonprescription cold and allcrg) products, laxatives, nonprescription stimulants, and diet pills. These arc described in more detail in Chapter 14. 

F Many diet pills contain ephedrine or caffeine. Amphetamines are Schedule II drugs and may not be sold without a prescription. 

Iron is an essential nutrient that is sometimes lacking in people s diets. For that reason, physicians often recommend iron for people with certain health conditions, such as iron-deficiency anemia. Some iron products are available without a prescription, either as single-ingredient iron pills or in combination with vitamins or other minerals, including pediatric vitamins with iron. Drugs that contain iron and folic acid are available by prescription and are principally used by women during pregnancy. 

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