The currently FDA-approved appetite suppressants belong to a group of drugs called phenethylamines,
which are similar to amphetamines. Amphetamines are known to have a stimulant effect on the central nervous system.
Central nervous system
(CNS) stimulants are drugs that can speed up mental or physi- cal functions. One of the most common CNS stimulants is caffeine.
The appetite suppressants discussed in this section are
CNS stimulants. The way that
these drugs control
appetite is by stimulating the part of the brain that controls appetite.
As mentioned, the hypothalamus is the appetite center of the brain so it makes sense that a group of drugs that controls appetite would influence the brain.
These CNS stimulants affect a number of neurotransmit-
ter systems in the brain, including serotonin. For those with weight problems, taking a pill to stave off hunger may seem like magic. However, altering chemicals in the body, even by adding a “feel-good” hormone such as serotonin, has risks as well as
benefits. Although scientific results show an increase in weight
loss as compared with a placebo or no pill, the weight loss is minimal: a fraction of a pound per week. For some, this small amount
of weight loss due to the drug makes it worthwhile,
especially when they factor in the mental and physical toll of obesity; for others, the side effects outweigh the benefits.
CNS stimulants
also
have side effects that pose a risk to the consumers. These stimulants increase the heart rate and blood pressure and therefore might not be recommended for people with high blood pressure or heart problems. Side effects vary but often include insomnia, irritability, and nervousness.
The same drug could cause different reactions, so one person might
experience a side effect that another patient taking the same
drug
may not. Some consumers find that the short-term side effects are simply not worth the weight loss. Others may not experience these side effects but could, in later years, encounte long-term
side effects that are currently unknown. The research on side effects involves only short-term experiments so it is difficult to know for sure what long-term side effects could occur.
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