Side effects of prescription weight loss drugs

By Weight Loss Consultant • Related • Filed Under

Many people who struggle with maintaining a healthy weight do not have luck losing weight with diet and exercise alone. Some of them have medical conditions that prevent proper metabolism of food, making it very difficult for them to lose any extra weight that has accumulated. Many medical treatments are available for people with these problems, including prescription weight loss drugs. Many people think these drugs are completely safe because they are prescribed by doctors, but there are many side effects of prescription weight loss drugs that you must be aware of before you begin taking them. Knowing the side effects of prescription weight loss drugs can help you to avoid choosing the wrong weight loss drug for your body.

Increased Heart Rate

One of the most common ingredients in prescription weight loss drugs is caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant, which means that your heart rate can be increased when taking these drugs. An increased heart rate can also be caused by other metabolism-boosting ingredients that cause the side effects of prescription weight loss drugs. Having an increased heart rate my cause you to feel flushed, sweat profusely, or feel like your heart is beating too quickly. If this becomes an ongoing problem, talk to the doctor who prescribed the medication and find out if there is an alternative with fewer side effects available.

Digestive Issues

Some prescription weight loss drugs aid in weight loss by blocking the absorption of fat from the foods you eat. When the fat is not absorbed into the body, it must be eliminated from the body completely. This can cause digestive issues such as gas and nausea, and may also cause problems like abdominal pain and bloating. When these digestive issues occur, it may make it difficult for you to continue your normal daily activities. While these fat blocking drugs are often effective for weight loss purposes, you may need to switch to another drug if the side effects of prescription weight loss drugs you have been taking become too severe.

High Blood Pressure

Some of the ingredients in prescription weight loss drugs can cause an increase in blood pressure for people who are taking the drugs to aid in weight loss. The best way to track increased blood pressure when taking these weight loss drugs is to measure it regularly. One or two days of elevation is probably not dangerous, but if your blood pressure is consistently elevated, speak with your doctor about changing medications or resolving the blood pressure issue. This can be one of the most dangerous side effects of prescription weight loss drugs, so it’s important that you do not ignore it if it happens to you.

Headaches

Many of the ingredients in prescription weight loss drugs can lead to headaches. Users may experience frequent headaches in the temples or in the front of the head. Caffeine is one of the ingredients that can lead to headaches, as caffeine increases blood flow in the blood vessels. This increased blood flow can actually cause headaches for some people. If over-the-counter medications take care of your headaches, you may be able to keep taking your prescription weight loss medication. However, severe headaches should be reported to your doctor immediately so other alternatives can be considered.

If you begin experiencing any of the side effects of prescription weight loss drugs, it is important for you to talk with your doctor about possible alternatives. You may be able to take a reduced dose of the drug you are currently taking. If there is no reduced dose available, your doctor may advise you to switch to another prescription weight loss drug. Your symptoms may also be combated with over-the-counter medications. For example, Tylenol could be used to stop headaches that are the result of side effects of prescription weight loss drugs. No matter what you decide to do, keep in touch with your doctor at all times to make sure your choices do not cause new symptoms or make your current side effects worse.

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