Wednesday 24 December 2014

Comparison of "weight loss" drugs


Since the withdrawal of the market for appetite suppressant, there are few drugs that help obese people lose weight. And with the case of the Mediator, the weight loss market is not really good news ...

To lose weight, there is no miracle drug
If you want to lose weight, it takes before everything on your character and a dietary aid. Indeed, it is no wonder drugs to lose weight by avoiding schemes.

Appetite suppressants have been withdrawn from the French market
Reject firstly a number of drugs.
Appetite suppressants or "appetite suppressant" are actually amphetamines. This is exciting: they increase the activity level of the body and vigilance (thus decreasing sleep and increasing the level of anxiety) while decreasing appetite.

These drugs have some efficacy in helping to loss of short-term weight (a few months), but this efficiency decreases gradually with time.

In addition, they can be addictive, which prohibits prolonged treatment. But experts are unanimous that the management of obesity should be the long term. The European Medicines Agency has considered the use of appetite suppressants was illusory.

A definitely avoid to lose weight: thyroid hormones and diuretics
Formerly, thyroid hormones were prescribed to obese people, and even for people wishing to lose weight, without being truly obese.

These drugs had some effect on weight loss, but it was very modest and short-lived.

Above all, they could cause heart attacks and disorders of the thyroid gland. Their risk / benefit ratio is so disastrous in this indication, it was forbidden to prescribe to help patients lose weight.

Diuretics are drugs that are urinating. The loss of an unusual amount of water reduces body weight, which suggests that the naive patient was emaciated.

Total deception, since no diuretic lost an ounce of fat tissue!

Diuretics are very useful in cases of hypertension or heart failure, for example. But they are not effective any and rather dangerous if used for the purpose of losing weight.

Furthermore, their association with thyroid hormones is particularly harmful.


Weight loss: not demonstrated efficacy and adverse certain effects: Antidepressants
Some antidepressants decrease appetite. This effect is modest, to the loss of a few pounds, but it is offset by adverse events that are not justified (while they may accept in certain severe depression, for example).

Antidepressant drugs whose side effects are less common or less troublesome (such as fluoxetine - Prozac) have no lasting effect on weight loss. Many other drugs claiming slimming properties, or are known to have without any clinical evidence.

Xenical and Alli® (orlistat)
Xenical is indicated in the treatment of overweight or obesity.
High dose, it is prescription only, while the Alli® drug, which contains the same molecule (orlistat) is the counter in pharmacies.

The first is prescribed by doctors since 1998, while the second has been available since May 2009. These two specialties were officially associated with a risk of liver toxicity, hence the warnings of the authorities against these treatments (1) any adverse effects should lead to stop the treatment, which is reserved exclusively for overweight people out and in combination with diet. Finally the treatment should not exceed 2 years.

Note that this medicine may cause other adverse effects, including the appearance of oily stools in 20% and gas with anal seepage in a quarter of patients ...

Sibutramine (Sibutral®) off the market since May 2010 for cardiac side effects
It acts through the central nervous system in the control of hunger and satiety. It would also increase energy expenditure. But this drug can cause more or less serious side effects including heart that led to its withdrawal from the market (increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, digestive problems, dry mouth and fatigue).

Mucilage: not established effective but low risk
Mucilages are drugs which absorb water to form a voluminous gel within the stomach. Not absorbed, they are often used to increase the volume of stool and fight against constipation (known as laxatives). However, the official indication reads: "Used as adjuvant restrictive diets in the treatment of obesity."

This is Pseudophage®, alginate. In official texts, the term "used as" indicates that for the safety agency, there is no evidence of treatment effectiveness, but it is used for a relatively long time, and safety appears correct.

The only cons-indications concern the subjects had an allergic reaction to any component of this medication, those with diseases narrowing the diameter of the intestine (risk of "plug"), and pregnant women in the lack of study on the risks of treatment to the fetus.

What about homeopathic and herbal medicine in a weight loss goal?
Some homeopathic remedies claiming efficiency to help with weight loss, unless there is any clinical evidence, to our knowledge.

A large number of herbal medicines (herbal) also rushed into this market. Thus we find in herbal teas, drinkable solutions, capsules or tablets: heather, blackcurrant, couch grass, ash, kelp, corn, mate, hazel, of orthosiphon, horsetail of the licorice, meadowsweet, rosemary, curly dock, green tea, fireweed.

The number and diversity of these components, it was skeptical if some of these plants were truly slimming virtues, it seems highly likely that we would dominate the market for a long time. On the other hand, it is often recommended to drink a glass of water when hunger or desire to eat is felt, and the use of herbal teas to "fill the stomach" can play a similar role (provided they do not sweeten, of course!).

And plants also have side effects ...

Please do not abuse the plants "draining" (green tea, birch, meadowsweet ...) used for their diuretic and digestive properties, as they can promote dehydration of the body, manifested by fatigue and dizziness.

People allergic to iodine or with thyroid disease should be wary of medicines containing kelp, which contains iodine: Amincitex®; Arkogélules algae; Dellova®; Élusanes® wrack; Médiflor® dietary herbal tea 1.

People who have had problems with alcohol should be wary of specialties that contain: Mincifit® bottle and bags; Promincil® drinkable; Urosiphon®.

Pregnant or nursing women should also avoid these products, as well as plants whose safety has not been established for the fetus: Amincitex®; Dellova®; Médiflor® dietary herbal tea 1; Mincifit® sachets; Promincil®.

Note that Médiflor® herbal dietary No. 1, add components without clinical relevance and potential serious side effects, such as senna, buckthorn.

What plants safely to help with weight loss?
For those wishing to take a herbal treatment to help them lose weight, the first to choose therefore are: Arkogélules® orthosiphon; Camiline® arkocaps; Élusanes® ash; Élusanes® green tea.

These capsules in all cases, and it is advisable to take them with a full glass of water (glass type orangeade). Can also be used directly infusions mate or green tea, easy to find, widely used as beverage approval (including South America and the Maghreb mate for green tea), which poses little risk of mistake of picking or adverse effects.
A big advantage of these plants is to infuse their price, much lower than drugs whatsoever.

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