1. Don't crush diet pills to mix in drinks or soups. Take it whole with a full glass of water.
2. Diet pills cause you to urinate more frequently because of its diuretic effect. This can cause dehydration, thus, causing complications. As a pre-caution, it's best to drink eight glasses of water everyday while you are on diet pills.
3. Take only the recommended dosage. Taking more than recommended will not help you lose weight, but it can increase the risk of side effects.
4. Your heartbeat should be under 86 beats per minute. Stop taking the pills if it get's up to 90 or higher. This is why regular checking of pulse is needed.
5. Always follow the instructions given to you by your dietician and/or doctor, and don't only rely on what's enclosed in the box. Also, diet pills will only work as expected if the diet plan is being followed.
6. After three months, stop taking those diet pills. Common diet phenylpropanolamine is safe to use for only up to sixteen weeks. Other studies show that it can cause health problems if taken under one month.
There are two kinds of diet pills; one is the prescription only diet pills and the over-the-counter diet pills.
Prescription Diet Pills - These are drugs that are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration which side effects are monitored, maybe advertised and prescribed under certain dosages. The most popular of these is Xenical, which has been licensed for long-term use. Though this too has it's own side effects, diarrhea, oily and unexpected fecal discharge are just a few of them. Therefore, users are suggested to take a low fat diet plan.
While the over-the-counter Diet Pills are unregulated. Beware that these diet pills have not been Federal authorities tested and they can cause serious side effects up to and including death. Most of them have not been proven to work.
Aside from a dietician, local pharmacists can also help you determine the pills that are safe and not for each person's case. Be extra careful about those so-called 'natural' or 'organic' ingredients.Just because something comes from a natural source doesn't make it safe. One example is Ma Huang, which is a botanical source of ephedrine, known as a stimulant, and is being studied for potential side effects.
People who have or have a family history of prostate problems, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, mental illness, and heart problems, should avoid taking diet supplements. This also applies to those who have had seizures or strokes. If someone is taking cold medicines, especially those with decongestants, diet pills should not be taken. Whether it be a prescription or an over-the-counter diet pill, the dangers are the same as with other similar drugs which cause the brain to reduce appetite and includes chest pains, depression, hair fall, fever, and even impotence.
And as a general rule, don't try to take diet drugs if you might have a pregnancy. People that are allergic to sulfites and tartrazine should also avoid taking diet pills. Then there are those who are under 18 years old or are over 60 years of age who should consult their doctor first before they take any dietary drug, especially if they rely on over-the-counter stimulants that are used as a replacement for increase exercise.