FAQs about Appetite Suppressant Medication
Posted 04-26-2008 at 02:18 AM by szo
Q: How will a doctor evaluate the patient if he needs an appetite suppressant medication treatment?
A: The physician will check on some factors if the patient needs a prescription for appetite suppressant medication treatment for obesity. A careful evaluation and examination should be done to determine how overweight a patient is. The doctor will do the following:
- Perform a physical examination
- Take a medical history whether illnesses related to overweight , such as heart disease or noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) runs in the family
- Evaluate the risk for obesity-related health problems by checking the blood pressure and doing blood tests
- Discuss the past methods used to lose weight.
The patient and his doctor should make an informed choice as to whether the medication can be a useful part of the weight management program. The patient will only be prescribed an appetite suppressant treatment after evaluating that the patient has obesity health problems, he is at high risk with this health problem, or he was not able to lose weight after using a non-drug method.
Q: If my doctor and I believe that the use of appetite suppressant medication is appropriate for me, what is the first step we should do?
A: It is important to discuss the goals of treatment. The primary goal is improving your health and reducing the risk of disease. Most patients should not expect to reach an ideal body weight using the currently available medications. Even a modest weight loss of 5% to 10% of your starting body weight can improve their health and reduce the risk factors for disease. Use of appetite suppressant medications for cosmetic purposes is not appropriate.
Q: What is the right dosage of the appetite suppressant medication?
A: The right dosage varies. There is no one correct dose for appetite suppressant medications. The doctor will decide on what dosage is right for you based on your medical condition, your medical family history, and your response to treatment.
Q: In losing weight, can medications replace exercise and improvement in eating habit?
A: No, appetite suppressant drugs must always be used together with exercise and healthy diet to treat obesity and maintain weight successfully. The medication is just an adjunct to the weight management program. Physical activity and low caloric diet can keep weight off whether for short or long term medication treatment.
Q: Do I need to take an appetite suppressant medication to lose 10 lbs?
A: Appetite suppressant medications are not recommended for individuals who are mildly overweight unless they have health problems that made worse by their weight. These meds are not used only to improve appearance. These medications are indicated for carefully selected individuals who have a BMI of greater than 27kg/sqm and who are at medical risk condition due to their obesity.
Q: What are the drugs or medical conditions that might be affected when a person takes an appetite suppressant medication?
A: Inform your physician if you have the following medical conditions:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- History of alcohol or drug abuse
- Pregnancy or lactating
- History of eating disorder, such as Anorexia nervosa or Bulimia
- Glaucoma
- Heart disease or heart condition, like an irregular heartbeat
- Planning on surgery that requires general anesthesia
- Migraine headaches requiring medications
- Use of monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors or antidepressant drugs.
- History of depression or manic depressive disorder
- History of stroke
Q: Will I be provided with programs together with the medication to improve my physical activity and eating habits?
A: Yes. Studies show that the appetite suppressant drugs work best when combined with exercise and healthy eating habits. Good weight management program can make you maintain your weight or keep weight off even after you stop taking the medication. Ask your physician any concerns that you might have about good nutrition and exercise program that might suit you.
Q: In treating obesity, how long should I take the appetite suppressant medication?
A: It depends on whether the treatment is helping you to lose weight and whether you have any side effects. To improve and maintain a healthy weight, the treatment may be continued for years because obesity is a chronic disease. Long term use of this medication may be helpful for carefully selected individuals, but there is not much information on how safe and effective the treatment is for more than 1 year.
Q: What is the side effect when the medication is taken in a long period of time?
A: Studies of weight loss medications shows signs of tolerance. The patient’s weight tends to level off after 4-6 months while still on medication. This leveling off may mean that the medication has reached its limit of effectiveness. It is not clear that the weight gain while taking the medication is due to drug tolerance. Patients should be advised not to increase the dosage of their medication when drug tolerance occurs.
Q: What are the potential benefits, aside from weight loss, in taking appetite suppressant medication?
A: Over a short term treatment, health risk associated with obesity is reduced. Studies also show that some drugs lower high blood pressure, triglycerides (fats), blood cholesterol, and decrease insulin resistance (the body’s inability to use blood sugar).
Q: Is there a need to see my doctor regularly after I started taking the appetite suppressant medication?
A: Yes. You should do regular check-ups so that your doctor can monitor how you are responding to the medication, not only in terms of weight loss, but how it affects your overall health. This medication should be used with a program of nutritional counseling and behavioral treatment to make long term changes in your diet and physical activity. If you experience any serious symptoms, such as chest pain or shortness of breath, contact your doctor immediately.
Q: If I stop taking appetite suppressant medications, will I regain the weight I lost?
A: Most studies report that almost all of the patients regained their weight after stopping their appetite suppressant meds. The only way to keep weight off is by maintaining good eating habits and exercise.
A: The physician will check on some factors if the patient needs a prescription for appetite suppressant medication treatment for obesity. A careful evaluation and examination should be done to determine how overweight a patient is. The doctor will do the following:
- Perform a physical examination
- Take a medical history whether illnesses related to overweight , such as heart disease or noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) runs in the family
- Evaluate the risk for obesity-related health problems by checking the blood pressure and doing blood tests
- Discuss the past methods used to lose weight.
The patient and his doctor should make an informed choice as to whether the medication can be a useful part of the weight management program. The patient will only be prescribed an appetite suppressant treatment after evaluating that the patient has obesity health problems, he is at high risk with this health problem, or he was not able to lose weight after using a non-drug method.
Q: If my doctor and I believe that the use of appetite suppressant medication is appropriate for me, what is the first step we should do?
A: It is important to discuss the goals of treatment. The primary goal is improving your health and reducing the risk of disease. Most patients should not expect to reach an ideal body weight using the currently available medications. Even a modest weight loss of 5% to 10% of your starting body weight can improve their health and reduce the risk factors for disease. Use of appetite suppressant medications for cosmetic purposes is not appropriate.
Q: What is the right dosage of the appetite suppressant medication?
A: The right dosage varies. There is no one correct dose for appetite suppressant medications. The doctor will decide on what dosage is right for you based on your medical condition, your medical family history, and your response to treatment.
Q: In losing weight, can medications replace exercise and improvement in eating habit?
A: No, appetite suppressant drugs must always be used together with exercise and healthy diet to treat obesity and maintain weight successfully. The medication is just an adjunct to the weight management program. Physical activity and low caloric diet can keep weight off whether for short or long term medication treatment.
Q: Do I need to take an appetite suppressant medication to lose 10 lbs?
A: Appetite suppressant medications are not recommended for individuals who are mildly overweight unless they have health problems that made worse by their weight. These meds are not used only to improve appearance. These medications are indicated for carefully selected individuals who have a BMI of greater than 27kg/sqm and who are at medical risk condition due to their obesity.
Q: What are the drugs or medical conditions that might be affected when a person takes an appetite suppressant medication?
A: Inform your physician if you have the following medical conditions:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- History of alcohol or drug abuse
- Pregnancy or lactating
- History of eating disorder, such as Anorexia nervosa or Bulimia
- Glaucoma
- Heart disease or heart condition, like an irregular heartbeat
- Planning on surgery that requires general anesthesia
- Migraine headaches requiring medications
- Use of monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors or antidepressant drugs.
- History of depression or manic depressive disorder
- History of stroke
Q: Will I be provided with programs together with the medication to improve my physical activity and eating habits?
A: Yes. Studies show that the appetite suppressant drugs work best when combined with exercise and healthy eating habits. Good weight management program can make you maintain your weight or keep weight off even after you stop taking the medication. Ask your physician any concerns that you might have about good nutrition and exercise program that might suit you.
Q: In treating obesity, how long should I take the appetite suppressant medication?
A: It depends on whether the treatment is helping you to lose weight and whether you have any side effects. To improve and maintain a healthy weight, the treatment may be continued for years because obesity is a chronic disease. Long term use of this medication may be helpful for carefully selected individuals, but there is not much information on how safe and effective the treatment is for more than 1 year.
Q: What is the side effect when the medication is taken in a long period of time?
A: Studies of weight loss medications shows signs of tolerance. The patient’s weight tends to level off after 4-6 months while still on medication. This leveling off may mean that the medication has reached its limit of effectiveness. It is not clear that the weight gain while taking the medication is due to drug tolerance. Patients should be advised not to increase the dosage of their medication when drug tolerance occurs.
Q: What are the potential benefits, aside from weight loss, in taking appetite suppressant medication?
A: Over a short term treatment, health risk associated with obesity is reduced. Studies also show that some drugs lower high blood pressure, triglycerides (fats), blood cholesterol, and decrease insulin resistance (the body’s inability to use blood sugar).
Q: Is there a need to see my doctor regularly after I started taking the appetite suppressant medication?
A: Yes. You should do regular check-ups so that your doctor can monitor how you are responding to the medication, not only in terms of weight loss, but how it affects your overall health. This medication should be used with a program of nutritional counseling and behavioral treatment to make long term changes in your diet and physical activity. If you experience any serious symptoms, such as chest pain or shortness of breath, contact your doctor immediately.
Q: If I stop taking appetite suppressant medications, will I regain the weight I lost?
A: Most studies report that almost all of the patients regained their weight after stopping their appetite suppressant meds. The only way to keep weight off is by maintaining good eating habits and exercise.
Total Comments 0
