Considering going on prescription diet drugs or buying over-the-counter pills that claim to shed pounds fast? Before you fill your prescription or shell out large sums for mail-order supplements, read the personal stories of nine iVillagers. For privacy, their names are not included, but you can compare stories on the Rx message board.

I was not prepared for how gross it was
"I too needed to lose about 30 pounds and was prescribed Xenical. It works -- there is no question about that. But the way it works is kind of gross, so be prepared for this. You have to wear a maxi pad always because of the gas-induced side effects. Be careful -- if you think you might just secretly pass some gas in public, you're likely to go to the bathroom in your pants! Basically, the drug removes the oil from what you eat and sends it straight out. I didn't really change my diet too much while I was on Xenical, and I did lose weight. They aren't addictive in any way. Also, I didn't take them as prescribed, which was three a day, one with each meal. I took about three a week, or even less -- only at times when I felt I'd overdone it with high-fat foods. Talk to your doctor about it, and, as with everything, use common sense and moderation."

I had to drink massive quantities of alcoholic beverages to sleep
"I used to take phentermine as early as possible in the morning because I would feel extremely wired about an hour after I took it, which would last for five to six hours. My appetite was totally gone for lunch. I would begin to come down from the wired feeling and sort of crash, and then feel tired into the evening. After the first two weeks, the wired feeling diminished somewhat and only lasted a couple hours, but the appetite suppressant was still there. The first two or three weeks, I either had to drink massive quantities of alcoholic beverages or take a sleeping pill in order to get to sleep. After that, I didn't have to. I guess the body gets accustomed to the feeling. I would highly recommend this medication, but be prepared for being extremely energetic in the mornings and totally beat at night. So far I've lost 13 pounds."