I'm totally in agreement with what Aphil said - also just wanted to ask:
Did you get this prescription from a DOCTOR (preferably your primary care physician as opposed to a 'weight loss clinic' doctor that takes your Visa card number, your blood pressure, your weight and gives you some pills), or just order it off the Internet?
The thing is...these ARE FDA-approved prescription drugs. IMO...IF they are prescribed by your physician who knows your history and IF you don't take them for more than a few weeks...then they probably can assist SOME people. SOME.
I did find an article in the PDR Health website - here's a portion of it:
http://www.pdrhealth.com/content/wom...s/fgwh35.shtml
Quote:
When you see a doctor for treatment of obesity, your examination is likely to include questions about obesity in your family. You will also be asked about your eating and exercise habits, use of cigarettes and alcohol, your occupation, and your experiences with gaining and losing weight in the past. During your physical examination, the doctor will check for signs of other medical conditions that might be responsible for your excess weight. Lower than normal activity of the thyroid or adrenal glands are two possibilities. However, these and other medical conditions are to blame in only about 1 percent of obesity cases.
Attacking the Problem
There's no way around it: To rid yourself of obesity you need to diet rigorously, though regular exercise is also helpful in shedding pounds and keeping them off. Although both over-the-counter and prescription medications help take off pounds temporarily, there is little evidence that they are effective in helping you maintain weight loss over the years.
The best diet includes nutritious foods served in smaller portions than you're in the habit of eating. Be sure to check with your doctor before undertaking low carbohydrate diets, liquid protein fasts, and other "fad diets." Some can be dangerous. Liquid diets of the past, for example, caused several deaths and hospitalizations; the dieters apparently starved to death because the liquids provided only a few hundred calories per day.
Losing weight can be a struggle, particularly if your problem is severe enough to classify you as obese. You may find help and support from local chapters of such organizations as Weight Watchers and Overeaters Anonymous. These groups can offer both advice on weight loss and a chance to ease your feelings of isolation by talking with people who understand what you're going through.
Medical treatment ranges from dieting under a doctor's supervision, sometimes with the aid of prescription medications, to outpatient or residential programs. These treatment programs are usually run by private doctors; some are associated with hospitals...
While the mainstays of permanent weight control continue to be a low-fat diet, regular exercise, patience, and perseverance, for some people who are seriously obese, drug therapy also may provide at least a little help. Older stimulant-type diet drugs include diethylpropion (Tenuate), phendimetrazine (Bontril, Prelu-2, others), and benzphetamine (Didrex). A newer weight-loss drug sibutramine (Meridia) works by boosting certain chemical messengers in the brain.
The phentermine drugs (Adipex-P, Ionamin), nicknamed "phen," were often prescribed along with fenfluramine (Pondimin) or dexfenfluramine (Redux), nicknamed "fen," in combinations known as "fen-phen." But in September 1997, the Food and Drug Administration asked manufacturers to withdraw Pondimin and Redux because of studies strongly suggesting that the drugs damage the heart's mitral valve. Today, the "fen" drugs are no longer available, but the "phen" medications remain.
A review of numerous studies reveals that diet drugs are only modestly effective, typically working just 10 percent better than non-drug treatments, and losing their effect after about six months...
How To Increase the Odds of Success
Unfortunately, success rates for long-term weight loss are low. It is estimated that only 20 percent of patients lose 20 pounds and keep them off for more than 2 years. An even smaller percentage maintain higher rates of weight loss.
Your best chance for success is a multi-pronged attack, employing a variety of strategies and emphasizing maintenance of weight loss more than the initial loss of excess fat. A well-rounded treatment program that includes a low calorie diet, counseling to help change eating behavior, regular exercise, and social support is the approach most likely to work. It also helps to have a close, supportive relationship with your therapist or physician. Above all, you must be motivated to attain your goal and keep the pounds off.
Some things to keep in mind about these kind of drugs:
1) Basically, you are taking speed, and this could affect your heart, blood pressure, emotional stability, etc. (a good reason for taking this under a doctor's supervision!)
2) These pills don't 'make you burn fat' - they are appetite suppressants - with only temporary effects - not long term.
3) Since this is a type of SPEED, there is a very strong possibility of becoming addicted or dependent on these medications, and requiring higher doses to get the same effect. From everything I've read on these drugs, they are only meant to be used for the short term!
Also, I believe that Didrex has been around since the 1960s as an appetite supressant, Phentermine has been around since 1972 or so. Obviously, if they WERE the 'magic pill' we would know by now, wouldn't we - also, the major pharmecutical companies wouldn't be spending BILLIONS of dollars trying to find the magic pill!