Weight loss pills????

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hey pals.

u guys have been really supportive of my stupid questions. so before i ask anything i would like to thank you in advance for not leaving me alone and supporting me during my on and offs.

Guys i visited my doctor today and after a routine check up he told me i had a very low BP high heart rate and high percentage of body fat.. he told me i had to loose at least 25% of my body fat. he wanted me to loose fat percentage early so that i do not develop any heart problem..

He suggested me 2 things.
1.) Make sure you exercise daily. 60 minutes each day without any fail
2.) To help me during my fat loss he gave me fat breaking pills ORLISTAT

i am scared on using them. i never felt i need to take pills to loose weight. and i am really afraid.

DID anyone else try something like that..
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Replies

  • steadk
    steadk Posts: 334 Member
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    I haven't tried anything like that, but I would say he's trying to get an endorsement :( I think you can do it without that supplement.
  • blazeybug87
    blazeybug87 Posts: 226 Member
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    hey pals.

    u guys have been really supportive of my stupid questions. so before i ask anything i would like to thank you in advance for not leaving me alone and supporting me during my on and offs.

    Guys i visited my doctor today and after a routine check up he told me i had a very low BP high heart rate and high percentage of body fat.. he told me i had to loose at least 25% of my body fat. he wanted me to loose fat percentage early so that i do not develop any heart problem..

    He suggested me 2 things.
    1.) Make sure you exercise daily. 60 minutes each day without any fail
    2.) To help me during my fat loss he gave me fat breaking pills ORLISTAT

    i am scared on using them. i never felt i need to take pills to loose weight. and i am really afraid.

    DID anyone else try something like that..

    Did he happen to mention the slightly 'unusual' side effect of Orlistat?
  • basillowe66
    basillowe66 Posts: 432 Member
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    If the doctor advised you to use them, then they must be right for you. The important thing is to get into an aerobic excersise NOW. I think it takes discipline to lose weight. A change of eating habits. Pills may help with weight loss, but to keep it off, it takes changing your eating habits and excersize!!
  • meghnaatluri
    meghnaatluri Posts: 9 Member
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    Hey,I am not sure about the pills.But,Judging from the pics you've posted.You don't look very fat to me,let alone,'obese'.Why don't you consult another doctor before u start on these pills.Sometimes these pills can play havoc with your hormones and make you even fatter when you stop using them(though I'm not sure if the pills your doc gave you are those kind or not)I've never used any pills and believe me,I used to be really fat a few years ago.It was just exercise and diet for me and I don't see y that won't work for you,u being 24 and very young.Best of Luck!!!
  • bizgirl26
    bizgirl26 Posts: 1,808 Member
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    yes it is like Alli but double the strength. You are supposed to keep your meals low fat and it will help block the absorption of fat by making it leave your body in your stool. But if you mess up and eat a high fat meal ( and let's face it, you are bound to have a higher fat meal sometimes) you may end up with a mess in your pants. Seach Alli in the topics and you will read all about anal leakage and the sorts. :sick:
  • twofat2012
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    This is what my doctor told me. If weightloss came in a pill it wouldn't be a 30 billion dollar industry. Every would be skinny and they would be out of business. I have almost 200 pounds to lose and when I begged for help he told me to walk walk and walk some more...I think if I were you I would find out all you could about this pill before taking ....the pharmacist is a real good resource.
  • onedayillbeamilf
    onedayillbeamilf Posts: 966 Member
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    Isn't Orlistat the same thing as Alli? Get your Depends ready.
  • Rilke
    Rilke Posts: 1,201 Member
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    What the hell is wrong with these doctors?
  • PrettyGrit
    PrettyGrit Posts: 19 Member
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    A new one is due to come on the market... I wonder how that will go?

    FDA Approves Diet Pill Belviq
    Belviq Is First New Prescription Weight Loss Drug in 13 Years

    WebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
    June 27, 2012 -- For the first time in more than a decade, the FDA has approved a new drug to help people lose weight.

    http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20120627/fda-approves-diet-pill-belviq


    Today, Arena Pharmaceuticals' Belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride) became the first prescription weight loss drug approved by federal regulators in 13 years.

    The FDA approved Belviq as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, for use in chronic weight control.

    The approval is specifically for use in adults with a BMI above 30 (considered obese), and for adults with a BMI of 27 (considered overweight) or above if they also have at least one weight-related medical condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.

    Belviq should not be used during pregnancy.

    Today's move comes almost two years after the FDA refused to approve the drug, citing concerns about its safety and effectiveness.

    But last May, an FDA advisory committee overwhelmingly endorsed making the drug available to people who are obese and those with health issues related to being overweight.

    The drug's manufacturer will be required to conduct six post-marketing studies, including a long-term trial to look for heart attack and stroke risks, the FDA announced today.

    Weight Gain Shockers Slideshow: Surprising Reasons You're Gaining Weight
    Weight Loss Drug Targets Hunger Center

    Belviq works by targeting a key area of the brain that regulates appetite, known as the serotonin 2C receptor.

    This is the same appetite-controlling hormone targeted by fenfluramine, the "fen" component of the notorious 1990s diet drug combo fen-phen. Fen-phen was linked to potentially life-threatening heart valve problems in as many as one in three users.

    But Belviq is much more selective than fenfluramine and much safer, its manufacturer says, because it specifically targets serotonin receptors associated with hunger.

    In a study published two years ago in the New England Journal of Medicine, about half of obese people who took the drug for a year lost at least 5% of their body weight, compared to 20% of dieters who took a placebo pill, while about 1 in 5 Belviq users lost 10% or more of their body weight, compared to 1 in 14 placebo users.

    People who continued on the drug for two years were able to maintain their weight loss better than those who switched to placebo after one year.

    Study participants were monitored closely for heart valve irregularities, and no difference was seen in the two groups.

    One Dieter's Story

    Lisa Sutter, who lives in suburban Washington D.C., credits Belviq with helping her lose 40 pounds.

    Sutter took the drug for a year during the clinical trial, and she says it changed her relationship with food.

    At the FDA hearing in May, Sutter told the panel that she gained weight after her children were born and found it impossible to lose it before enrolling in the trial.
    One Dieter's Story continued...

    "When I was on the drug I was able to stick to a 1,500- or 1,600-calorie-a-day diet without feeling hungry," she told WebMD. "And when I ate more than I planned to, I felt uncomfortably full, which is not something that I was used to."

    Sutter was switched to the placebo arm of the study in her second year of enrollment and the weight started to creep back on.

    She now weighs 30 pounds more than she did before enrolling in the trial and she says she plans to go back on the drug as soon as she can.

    "I'm not saying this drug is the answer for everyone, but it worked well for me," she says.

    Belviq Appears Safe, but Concerns Remain

    But an FDA panel that met to consider the drug in 2010 had other concerns about the drug's safety, citing tumors that developed in lab animals.

    At the FDA hearing in May, some panel members continued to express concerns that the drug may cause breast tumors or heart valve problems.

    The panel voted 18 to 4 to recommend the drug's approval, citing the need for new obesity treatments.

    "Obesity is one of the biggest health problems we face in this nation and, unfortunately the diet and lifestyle message is not working for many people," says diabetes specialist Abraham Thomas, MD, who chaired the May FDA advisory committee meeting.

    Thomas, who is an endocrinologist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, said during the May meeting that questions about heart valve safety in Belviq users had not been fully resolved.

    But in an interview with WebMD, he called echocardiogram findings in Belviq users reassuring. These tests showed no evidence of an increase in heart valve issues.

    "Ideally, we will have other drug options in the future for obesity instead of just a few so that if one drug doesn't work we can try another or a combination," he says.

    Arena spokesman David Schull tells WebMD that Belviq is unique among the weight loss drugs the FDA is considering because it is a new drug discovered and developed by the company.

    Qnexa, another weight loss drug awaiting FDA approval, is a combination of two already prescribed medications, the antiseizure drug topiramate and the appetite suppressant phentermine, the "phen" half of fen-phen.

    Early this year, an FDA advisory committee overwhelmingly recommended Qnexa's approval as an obesity drug, and a final vote is scheduled for mid-July.

    Along with the restriction on use during pregnancy, there are other side effects associated with Belviq.

    It can cause serious side effects, according to the FDA, including serotonin syndrome, particularly when taken with certain medicines that increase serotonin levels or activate serotonin receptors. These include drugs commonly used to treat depression and migraine. Belviq may also cause disturbances in attention or memory.
  • chrishgt4
    chrishgt4 Posts: 1,222 Member
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    Tests suggest that it helps, but by around an extra 5lbs over a year. So weigh in whether that's worth it.

    also worth noting that fat in food doesn't = fat in body. It works by essentially lowering the calories you're taking in by however much fat was in them. Since fat is necessary, I can't see this being a great way to go.

    If an extra 0.5lbs a month is worth anal leakage then knock yourself out :sick:
  • andrea198721
    andrea198721 Posts: 173 Member
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    Oh yeah! really monitor your fat intake or else.....leakage. They will however make you more self aware and they really don't affect anything but your digestion "area".
  • hyper24
    hyper24 Posts: 27
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    Hi,

    I do not have a medical background, but I am pretty sure that you needn't take any weight loss pills to lose fat. As long as you are working out regularly and eating healthy meals, you will see the difference. I take this supplement L-Carnitine, which is created in our body naturally, it aids fat loss, but honestly I don't really see much difference. However, it does have some additional benefits so I continue to take them at least until I finish the tub.

    It is best if you just depend on exercise and a proper diet (try to eat 2-3 hours) to lose fat. However, if you really think that the weight loss pills the doctor suggested is necessary, then at least try consulting with few other doctors before you decide to go with it.

    Good Luck ! :)
  • tmm01
    tmm01 Posts: 137
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    If you are worried about these pills, go back to the Drs to discuss. However please follow the Drs advice. Pills are not the answer for everyone, but your Dr knows about your whole health, so will have considered these factors. If you have questions - to get the best advice, I would go back and talk to them.

    All the best for your journey.
    :wink:
  • swati37
    swati37 Posts: 145 Member
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    my god...

    i am so confused.... he is my family doctor why would he do anything like endorsing a medicine.
    i think i can look for another opinion before starting anything..

    weight gain????? does weight really creep back.. i have never taken any shortcuts in life. and with dese pills i feel as if um taking a shortcut to weight loss.
    if weight has to creep back i rather loose it slow..but will make sure i didnt do it the wrong way..

    anal leakage???? my god i dont want a problem like tat.. .
  • BrokenButterfly
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    Is he f*cking retarded?!
  • Living4Liz2012
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    Their dangerous, and side effects suck sooo bad. I understand your doctor is looking out for your well being but I tried I will be honest. Dropped 7 pounds in a week but was miserable, sick, shaky and starving. I quit after a week and gained back the 7 plus 4 more pounds. I say even though it takes time stay doing it without. I am glad I did:)
  • columbus27
    columbus27 Posts: 178 Member
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    Just start walking after work or in the morning in a 2-4 hour fasting state for 60 min.
  • ElleBee66
    ElleBee66 Posts: 128 Member
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    my god...

    i am so confused.... he is my family doctor why would he do anything like endorsing a medicine.
    i think i can look for another opinion before starting anything..

    weight gain????? does weight really creep back.. i have never taken any shortcuts in life. and with dese pills i feel as if um taking a shortcut to weight loss.
    if weight has to creep back i rather loose it slow..but will make sure i didnt do it the wrong way..

    anal leakage???? my god i dont want a problem like tat.. .

    Doctors get all sorts of stuff for pushing particular medicines - I know one personally who is always getting weekends away in high-class hotels and stuff paid for by the drugs industry to encourage him to push their stuff and reward him for recomending particular brands.
  • MelMena
    MelMena Posts: 152 Member
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    How did he determine that you have 25% BF to LOSE? That number seems very high to me.

    There is nothing wrong with questioning a doctor or getting a second opinion.
  • Dnsnyder
    Dnsnyder Posts: 263 Member
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    Doctor's aren't always right about everything. I would suggest talking with your doctor about your concerns, asking him to explain in detail why he wants you to take this medication and how it works. Also, get a second and/or third opinion. If you doctor is an M.D., I would suggest getting a second opinion from another M.D. and a third opinion from a D.O. If you don't want to go to two more doctors, get your second opinion from a D.O. (You can Google the difference between these two types of doctors....here is a single link from a google search as an example: http://www.athensmed.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=83). I switched to a D.O. and have been much happier with my health care. I hope this helps and best of luck to you!