Diet Pills: A Diet Dream or a Huge Health Hoax?

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."

I can wear belts and tuck shirts in again
"Meridia changed my life! I lost 20 pounds the first month without exercise. I lost another 23 more pounds by walking up the stairs a few extra times a day for 10 weeks. Since being off Meridia for six weeks, I have lost seven more pounds on my own. I can wear belts and tuck shirts in again. I'm working toward my target goal now without Meridia, but I only have 20 pounds to go, thanks to the drug. My blood pressure and heart rate improved drastically."

My mouth was so dry, I felt like I would gag
"I've been on 10 milligrams of Meridia for six months, and have lost about 27 pounds. This was an awful drug to take at first. I had every side effect to the fullest. The dry mouth was so bad that I would gag. Each night, I'd sleep till about 3am, and then toss and turn till the alarm went off. Another side effect was constipation, which I have since learned is directly related to what I'm eating. The more fiber, the less trouble there is. The appetite suppressant was so strong in the beginning that I was hardly eating anything. I was getting lightheaded from this, and had to make myself eat. It's very expensive -- about $85 a month -- and is not covered by my insurance."

I lost 100 pounds!
"I took phentermine, and found it to be successful. I lost about 100 pounds in a 10-month period, and have kept it off for over a year. I also learned to change my eating habits, and continued a workout program as well. This ensures that I'll keep off the weight as I work on toning up."

Don't go to someone who prescribes these pills for a living
"I am on Meridia --10mg a day -- and although it takes a few weeks before you feel a difference, it is wonderful. It has helped me eat less. I'm also trying to eat better and change my habits. It is working. I'm wearing pants today that I haven't been able to wear since fall. Some very important things to know about weight-loss medications are: 1. Do your research for yourself -- know about the medications available, how they work, react to other medications, etc. 2. Discuss all available options with your doctor. Do not go to someone who prescribes these pills for a living. They do not care about you. 3. Be honest with yourself. Carefully inventory your dietary habits and level of activity. Change what needs changing."

Metabolife sucks!
"I took Metabolife for about six months until I couldn't afford it anymore. So I stopped taking it. Soon after, I went into a deep depression. I didn't know what was wrong with me -- I felt totally run down and very sad, to where I could barley get out of bed. So I went to my doctor and told her what was going on. She told me that the Metabolife was the cause of my depression because it was just like taking speed -- and my withdrawal was the same as quitting a drug. I'll never touch the stuff again."

Herbal disaster!
"There was a woman who came into the pharmacy where I work with an ER prescription. It was for painkillers, and I asked her what type of pain it was for. She said she had just been diagnosed with kidney stones that night. She said that she and the doctor thought it could be from taking Metabolife, which she began using several months prior."

I was Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
"Last year, after my second child, I wanted to lose weight badly. I paid for phentermine for six months, and lost 42 pounds. Using phentermine was the easy way out, but let me tell you -- the journey was difficult. That medication changed my personality. I was Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Everything irritated me -- my kids, my husband, and for no reason at all. I would yell at my kids and my husband for not doing anything. I hated myself. I would sit alone at night watching TV (since the pills also kept me awake), thinking about my day's behavior with my family, and I would cry and cry. I really did not like the person I was while I was on this medication. Not to mention that my face broke out in severe acne. Although I did lose the weight, it quickly came right back once I went off the pills."