The other category of weight loss drugs increases the metabolic rate thus leading to increase in calorie burning. These are normally known as thermogenic drugs and are available without a doctor's prescription.



Most of these weight loss drugs should not be taken for cosmetic solutions. They are recommended for people who have a BMI of over 30 and are considered as extreme cases of obesity and when other conventional methods of reducing weight has failed. These medicines should be taken in strict monitoring of the doctor.

Prescription diet pills like Adipex, Didrex, Meridia, Xenical, Phentermine, etc., are regulated by the FDA. Their side effects are monitored and they may be advertised and prescribed for weight loss under certain conditions and in certain pill dosages.

Adipex is an appetite suppressant that is used as a short-term supplement to diet and exercise in the treatment of obesity. The generic name for Adipex is Phentermine. Adipex is a sympathomimetic amine similar to amphetamine.stimulate the central nervous system (nerves and brains) and increases heart rate and blood pressure and decreases appetite.

Sympathomimetic are weight loss pills which are used in the short term treatment of obesity. (Adipex is used as a short-term drug along with the diet and behavior modification). The appetite reducing effect tends to decrease after a few weeks. Because of this, these medicines are useful only during the first few weeks of a weight loss program. The following appetite suppressants weight loss medications are available only with doctor's prescription:

- Diethylpropion (Tenuate and Dorpan)

- Mazindol (Sanorex and Mazanor)

- Phendimetrazine (Bontril, Plegine, Prelu-2, X-Trozine)

- Phentermine (Adipex-P, Fastin, Ionamin, Oby-Trim)

There are also non prescription drugs or over-the ?counter weight loss drugs available. The OTC diet and weight loss pills sector is probably the fastest growing sector in the weight loss industry. However these diet pills are classified as food supplements rather than diet drugs and are relatively unregulated. These diet pills are not regulated by the FDA.

All prescription diet pills likeare legally required to undergo a variety of clinical weight loss trials before receiving FDA approval for use by overweight patients. Non- prescription drugs are not required to undergo any clinical weight loss trials. And no FDA approval is required for these diet pills.

Obesity drugs must be prescribed by the doctor. One should avoid diet pills available over-the-counter without a prescription.