When conventional diets fail, more and more Americans are turning to unconventional treatments in their efforts to lose weight. Drugs for depression and those designed to prevent seizures are among the new weapons in some doctors' arsenals to help overweight patients, even though these drugs have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to be used for such purposes.
A recent Wall Street Journal article highlighted the "off label" use of drugs for weight loss, from Adderal, commonly prescribed for Attention Deficit Disorder, to Topamax, usually used to treat seizures and migraines.
The problem with using these drugs for weight loss, beyond that the drugs haven't been approved for that purpose, is that they often come with nasty side effects. Adderal, for instance, can cause insomnia, aggression and heart problems, while Topamax can cause hyperventilation and fatigue.
Another drug sometimes used for weight loss, Wellbutrin, commonly used as an antidepressant, even comes with a black box warning that it can increase suicidal tendencies in children and adolescents.
Some doctors question the effectiveness of such drugs as a treatment for overweight people. The drugs seem to work by helping people control their cravings, and weight loss is often a side effect for people taking the drugs for the traditional reasons. A 2002 study found that Wellbutrin helped obese patients lose weight when the drug was combined with diet and exercise.
But many people are popping these pills because they don't want to put in the work of dieting and exercise. Some are even bypassing their doctor and buying the drugs on the Internet, a dangerous proposition because of the unknown origin of the drugs and the danger of incorrectly self-medicating (no, we're not giving you links to find out where to buy them).
Most insurance plans won't cover this type of treatment because it is off label. People who get the drugs through their doctors can expect to pay $100 to $200 a month depending on the drugs prescribed.
Off-label diet pills
DrugApproved UseSide Effects
AdderallAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)Insomnia, anxiety, cardiac problems
ByettaType 2 diabetesNausea, diarrhea, the jitters
ProvigilNarcolepsy; sleep apneaHeadaches, nausea, insomnia
TopamaxSeizures; migraine headachesFatigue, hyperventilating, difficulty concentrating
WellbutrinAdult depressionSeizures, insomnia, juvenile suicide
There are two medications approved by the FDA to treat obesity, Meridia and Xenical. They are designed to be used along with a healthier diet and exercise, so they're still not a quick fix like so many people want.
Whether these drugs will ever be approved for their off-label uses is unknown. For now, if you want to go this route, it's important to talk to your doctor about it and only take drugs under your doctor's supervision. Don't self-medicate, and keep an eye on the side effects. Losing weight in this way simply isn't worth it if you're causing other damage to your body.
Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs
# posted by Network @ 5:21 PM
