Weight loss medication safety tips

Weight-loss medications should be used only by patients who are at increased risk of health problems because of their weight. They should not be used for "cosmetic" weight loss. If you are considering long-term drug therapy for obesity, consider the following areas of concern and potential risks:

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• Development of tolerance. Most studies of weight-loss medications show that a patient's weight tends to level off after six months of taking a particular drug. This may mean that the medication has reached its limit of effectiveness.
• Potential for dependence or abuse . Although this is not likely with non-amphetamine appetite-suppressant medications, be cautious when taking these if you have a history of drug abuse or alcohol.
• Side effects. Because weight-loss drugs are used to treat a condition that affects millions of people, many of whom are basically healthy, potential adverse side effects that may outweigh the benefits of treatment are of great concern. Most side effects of these medications are mild and usually improve with continued treatment. Rarely, serious and even fatal outcomes have been reported.
• Reluctance to view obesity as a chronic disease. Weight-loss medications are not "magic bullets" or a one-shot fix for a chronic disease. They should be combined with a healthy eating plan and increased physical activity.