Is Contrave Safe for Weight Loss?

 Nutrition / Diet  No Responses »
Dec 242011
 

Another weight loss drug hits the market. Contrave, a prescription weight loss pill that’s a combination of two different medications, was approved by the FDA. It joins the roster of other weight loss pills to reach pharmacy shelves only to be the subject of scrutiny later due to health concerns. Is Contrave for weight loss effective – and is it safe?

 

Prescription Weight Loss Pills: What is Contrave?                  

 

Contrave is a prescription diet pill that combines the anti-depressant medication bupropion with naltrexone, a drug used in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. This dual approach to weight loss targets obesity in two ways.

 

Bupropion increases levels of dopamine in the brain, which reduces appetite and helps the body burn more energy, while naltrexone makes food less palatable and helps to maintain the initial weight loss initiated by the bupropion.

 

How well does it work? In four one-year trials involving over 3,000 obese people, the group taking Contrave lost only 4.2% more weight than those who took a placebo. This falls short of what the medical community and the FDA likes to see from a weight loss pill.

 

To be considered “effective”, those taking a diet medication must lose at least 5% more weight than those taking a placebo. On the plus side, in three of the four studies, more than a third of the participants lost at least 5% of their total body weight.

 

Contrave Risks and Side-Effects

 

Concave doesn’t quite reach the standards of what the medical community deems ideal for a weight-loss pill, but is it safe? In trials, Concave modestly raised blood pressure during the first two months participants took it. Constipation, nausea and headache were also common side effects

 

Of particular concern is the potential for heart-related problems. Other weight loss medications like Meridia and Fen-Phen were removed from the market, because of heart-related issues. In the studies, there were a few cases of heart palpitations and vertigo, but no obvious heart problems, but this isn’t surprising since the studies were only carried out for a year. It could take years for heart problems to show up.

 

One additional concern about Contrave for weight loss is one of its two components, bupropion, increases the risk of seizures. In fact, during the trials, two participants experienced seizures, and the risk for seizures could be as high as one in 1,000 people who take it.

 

Contrave Weight Loss Pill: The Bottom Line?

 

Contrave appears to be modestly effective for weight loss, but the long-term side effects, especially its effects on the heart, are unknown. For some obese patients the benefits may outweigh the potential risks, but approach this drug with caution until more is known. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of diet medications before taking one. It could come back to bite you later.

 

References:

 

Medscape.com. “Most FDA Advisers Say Likely Benefits of Contrave Diet Drug Outweigh Its Cardiovascular Risks”

Obesity Diet Pills

 Obesity Diets  No Responses »
Dec 062011
 

One of the most common obesity related search term is obesity diet pills, but many of the common obesity diet pills such as Phenylethylamine can have serious or even servier side effects.

Diet pills are a “dime a dozen” these days. Every company claims to be “the best” or promises an absurd amount of weight loss. You MUST exercise caution if you attempt to purchase these low cost obesity diet pills over the internet. You should watch out for diet pills with names like Phenylalanine and diet pills sold from an popular online diet pill website Diet Pill Universe.

Why these “diet pills” and often termed “magic diet pills” are not safe, natural or a healthy way to lose weight. In order to lose weight safely and to keep it off, you need to eat certain foods with a certain amount of vitamins, minerals, protein and calories to effectively lose weight safely and naturally and add proper exercise to keep the weight off.

How do diet pills work? They work by starving you and research shows that when people attempt to lose weight with diet pills or magic pills through starvation, the weight comes back quickly and often times with even more weight gain. They is a better, healthy, natural obesity weight loss plan that will not leave you starved for food or proper nutrition. But first, let’s look more into Phenylalanine.

Phenylalanine, also called L-Phenylalanine, is a dietary supplement that can be taken to ease the symptoms of depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Parkinson’s disease, as well as to provide temporary relief from pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis. It is an amino acid that the body does not produce on its own and must be acquired through food or supplements. Like most supplements, phenylalanine has potential side effects that may require medical attention.

Common Side Effects

  • According to Prevention, side effects of phenylalanine that are considered common but not serious include heartburn, nausea, constipation and mild headaches. These symptoms generally do not require medical attention, but patients should contact their physicians should they become more pronounced, extensive or uncomfortable.

Serious Side Effects

  • Serious side effects associated with phenylalanine include insomnia, confusion, dizziness or intense headache. A patient experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention and consult with a physician before continuing phenylalanine doses.

Severe Side Effects

  • According to PDRHealth, severe side effects associated with phenylalanine include tightness or sharp pain in the chest, difficulty breathing and a sudden increase in heart rate or blood pressure. Symptoms of allergic reaction to the supplement include sudden rash or hives and swelling of the face, neck, lips or tongue. A patient experiencing these side effects should seek immediate emergency medical attention.

Existing Medical Conditions

  • According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, phenylalanine can cause unusual anxiety and jitters, especially in children. Thus, children being treated for ADHD must have their phenylalanine doses carefully monitored to prevent serious episodes of hyperactivity. Women who are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding should not take phenylalanine supplements.

Drug Interactions

  • Phenylalanine has the potential to adversely interact with antipsychotic medications prescribed to treat schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder such as thioridazine, clozapine and haloperidol. This may result in symptoms of tardive dyskinesia (involuntary movements of the limbs, facial muscles and tongue). Phenylalanine may also diminish the effectiveness of levodopa, a medication prescribed to ease the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Let’s look at the Healthy all Natural Obesity Diet Plan that does not include Phenylalanine diet pills or harsh chemicals or side effects!
Dangerous diet pills or a natural tasty Isagenix diet with Chocolate shakes and chocolate snacks??