Are Weight-Loss Drugs Worth the Risk?

Think twice about taking any medication, unless it is absolutely necessary. Weight loss pills, like all drugs have side effects attached to them, and here is another example of a "approved" drug with the potential for serious risk attached.

Recently the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says they are investigating reports of liver damage in patients taking Alli, the only unapproved weight loss drug approved by the agency.

The regulator said last week they had 32 reports of liver damage in patients taking Alli and Xenical, a prescription weight loss version, both containing orlistat drugs. The report, submitted over a ten-year period, included 27 hospitalized patients, and six with liver failure.

The FDA says the direct link between weight loss and liver injury has not yet been established, and patients are advised to continue taking the medication as directed.

So, despite the announcement, the FDA has not ruled out whether liver problems are caused by orlistat. Overweight or obese people are those who are more likely to use these medications, also at higher risk of liver failure due to a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The FDA does not issue warning labels for these drugs, and does not advise doctors to change their weight loss prescription practices.

(We can only wonder why?)

However, the FDA has advised you to contact your doctor if you have symptoms of liver problems such as jaundice (yellow or white skin), chocolate urine, weakness, or pain in your stomach after taking a weight loss pill.

I am strong My advice to you is to gradually lose weight in a natural way. There are no easy weight loss options that are risk free, and there are many mentally and physically disabled people who will testify to this.

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