Hi Ash!
I'm not sure why you have to resort to shakes because you can't exercise, but it sounds like you know these shakes may not be the best solution. You really don't have that much weight to lose according to the stats you provided, so if you are not on a time limit, why don't you just concentrate on eating a healthy diet, limiting portion size, and drinking more water? And I imagine you have plenty of walking to classes if you are on campus as a med student! I'm sure you want this to be a lifestyle change that will last, not just a temporary fix, so why not start making those changes now? Then you won't have to worry about side effects. Good luck! You can do this!