Diet Pills? Has anyone had any luck?

I'm trying a diet pill called Zantrex-3. It's pretty much loaded withcaffeine, yerba mate, guarna geen tea, ect... I've noticed that it gives me a stomach ache for an hour or so after I take it. It's not so bad as long as I drink a lot of water. But it gives me sooooo much energy through out the day. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I check out trim spa, but the label scared me when I read that you need to swallow it fast or it might swell up in your throat causing death!

I took Diet Fuel (made by TwinLabs) back in the ephedra days.  I lost all 40 lbs of my pregnancy weight in 2 months & I kept it off for 3 years afterwards (until I got pregnant again!).  By the time I had my 2nd child, ephedra was off the market & I can't find anything that will supress my appetite & give me the energy like Diet Fuel did.  I'm not saying that Diet Fuel was the magic pill, but it curbed my appetite enough where I didn't overeat & gave me enough energy to work out. 

Recieved my Ephedrine tablets in the post last night. Took one last night and one this morning. I have slightly high blood pressure anyway and after reading the warnings on websites im really worried. Do you think it will be ok to take them just for a week?

How do they help you loose weight? Suppress appetite? speed up metabolism?

While I don't think that diet pills are for everyone, I also don't agree with the statement that they don't work.

I was prescribed Phentermine by my MD last April.  I lost 33 pounds, and have kept it off for almost year now. 

There is no 'magic pill'.  You have to be committed to changing your eating habits and lifestyle, otherwise when the effect of the pill is gone, you will be right back to where you started.

After I had checked out several websites, and read as much as I could about Hoodia, I ordered it.  $250!!!!!!!!!!!!  Supposedly, it's the pure stuff, not an additive to another weight loss pill.  Anyway, it had NO affect on my appetite whatsoever.  I've got five bottles of the stuff in a drawer now.  I HAVE lost 26 pounds since mid-December 2006 and am pleased with that.  But, it was done with pure will power.  The Hoodia was a total waste of money.

Chelseagirl, there are a few ways that diet pills supposedly work.
Ephedra specifically constricts blood vessels (which increases blood pressure), expands bronchial tubes (making it easier to breath which is why it's used for asthma), increases the heart rate, stimulates teh brain and has thermogenic properties (causes the body to produce more heat, in effect speeding up the metabolism). 
You should probably consult a doctor before taking them. 

   My Mother in law took Metabolife regularly for weigh loss for over a year. She was eating healthy and exercising and lost the weight. She lost it 2 or 3 lbs a week. then after being on the pills for a little over a year she started having fainting spells and heart issues. She now has a pace maker and other heart problems. And has gained most of the weight back.
    Another point is that they are usually full of Ephedra. Ephedra is what they make Amphetamines out of. So basicaly your taking a legal version of Speed. It suppresses your appetite and gives you energy but at what cost to your health?
  So from my personal oppinion I think they are a really bad Idea. I have tried them, dont like them.
 

Thanks starffy. The websites about ephedrine have actually scared me a little so im only going to take them for a week then see how they work out and have a break for a few days. Im taking 3 a day excatly as it asys on the pack. wish me luck

Been taking Ephedrine for a week 3 pills a day. First day or 2 was fine by the end of the week i was drained which is hardly inducesive to excerising, my blood pressure was higher than it should have been (i was at the doctors for a check-up anyway), i had a constant head ache but my weigh changed 4lbs - unfortunately that was up not down! so i got excatly what i deserved - its my own fault - so flushed them down the toliet- no way  i can be tempted by them again. Trouble is i knwo that in 6 months time ill go and buy another wonder pill and do his all over again - im so weak. Funny im so in control of life and am extremly sucessful at everything i do, except when it comes to not putting food in my mouth. I need self-control, can you get a pill for that?

I have tried my share of diet pills propolene and slimquick recently and I didn't think either worked.  I am now trying Leptopril and it is controling my appetite.  I have a hard time at work sitting at a desk all day.  I'm only taking 2 a day right now they don't make me all jittery like some of the others.  I know I should do it on my own but just a habit.  I do wonder sometimes though if it's all in our heads and if they were just sugar pills we were taking if we would even notice.

just googling "bad diet pills" brings up a bunch of articles on the negative consequences and possible side effects of taking diet pills.  some of it is quite scary... 

here's just a sampling... but the articles seem to say that so many have bad side effects and they all say to use with a diet and exercise plan.  so what works?  the diet and exercise of course.

check out these articles...

The Skinny on Diet Pills

http://www.teenwire.com/infocus/2003/if-20030 429p222-diet.php

an excerpt:

Feeling bad is an understatement. Many diet pills can cause

• high blood pressure
• heart palpitations and irregular heartbeats
• dizziness
• blurred vision
• headaches
• insomnia
• anxiety
• depression

And if you're using diet pills to try to look more attractive, forget it ? dietary fat blockers (such as orlistat) can cause gas, diarrhea, and uncontrollable bowel movements. Vitamin deficiencies that result from these drugs can lead to dry skin and hair loss. Really beautiful, right?

Even so-called "natural" diet pills cause side effects. One of the most common ingredients in over-the-counter diet pills, ephedra, is also the most dangerous. Derived from the herb ma huang, ephedra can cause headaches, nausea, and can cause heart attacks and strokes ? even in teens. According to Anding, many guys take pills containing ephedra and its common companion, caffeine, because they think it'll improve their performance in sports. Wrong! The pills won't improve the performance and many sport organizations, like the NCAA, ban their use.

Healthier Ways

Using diet pills as a "quick fix" won't work. "If you didn't gain 20 pounds in one week, you won't lose it that fast either," said Anding. Use these tips to lose weight healthfully and to keep it off:

• Don't skip meals, especially breakfast ? you'll make up the calories later in the day by eating more food at other meals.
  
• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables. Loading up on these low-calorie foods will make you feel fuller faster.
  
• Stay away from greasy foods, like French fries and pizza.
  
• Moderate your portion sizes ? don't eat more than the recommended serving.
  
• Exercise regularly, and drink plenty of water instead of soft drinks.

These tips are a good idea for anyone to follow, whether you're at a healthy weight or have some pounds to lose. By learning how to eat healthfully now, you might not have to worry about losing weight for the rest of your life!

Warning for Diet Pill Users (ABC story)

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=edel l&id=3974993

an excerpt:

In 2004, the FDA banned weight loss supplements that contained Ephedra, a stimulant that causes stroke and death in some people. But many Ephedra-free supplements contain caffeine and citrus aurantium. And that can spell trouble.

Dr. Haller: "There is some sort of interaction that when the two stimulants are taken together, there is this effect on blood pressure and heart rate."

In a recent study, Dr. Haller found a single dose of products containing caffeine and citrus aurantium resulted in an increase in heart rate -- up to an extra 16 beats per minute -- and an increase in blood pressure by up to 12 percent.

Dr. Haller: "It's bad for your heart. It's bad for your kidneys, increases you risk of stroke."

And that's just in a healthy population. What about people who already have high blood pressure, like Justin?

Dr. Haller, M.D.: "It could be enough to cause them to be at an increased risk for a heart attack or a stroke."

check the articles for much more!

Diet Pills Are Not Great But Taking Multiples Is Suicide!!

As ICU Nurse I have cared for many patients who have caused themselves major organ damage by taking diet pills against the manufacturer's recommendations!! It is so sad when these patients come in because they are sweet, beautiful people who are compulsively obsessed with staying thin. Death is not out of the realm of possibility either.  I recently saw a patient <40 die from heart damage and the additional liver damage they had caused uncontrollable hemmoraging. Not to be overly graphic but so many people try to ignore reality!! Now granted, the pt. was taking multiple diet pills but still... it is something to consider!!

They're bad bad bad, I know, but I have been trying TrimSpa recently, and I find it really does help me to keep my appetite in check, so I snack less through out the day and take more reasonable portions during my regular meals.

I don't know if I have lost any weight I would not have lost anyway -how can you ever really know- but I am happy that it makes it a lot easier for me to say no to unhealthy snacks, even when they are right under my nose.  And I love their "chocolates"--they have the strangest bitter taste at the end, but it seems to have grown on me...  :P

 

A

NO NO NO NO NO AND NO. Weight loss is not easy, and those over the counter "miracle" weight loss pills will do nothing more than dehydrate you, give you bad headaches, irritate your bowels, might give you a quick burst of energy and then you will crash miserably at the end of the day etc etc. Those pills are not fda approved for a reason-they don't work long term at all. Many of my friends take diet pills and they'll lose 2-5lbs in a week and its ALL water weight which you gain back and retain. So my advice is to lose weight the old fashion way-counting calories and exercise-its the ONE method that is proven to work.

Original Post by jen32966:

Lets see....currently I'm combining Zantrex 3, Leptopril, Smart burn and System Lean 7....I only take 1 of each instead of 2. I'm also using cinnamon pills ( helps with insulin control for cravings) cromium also for insulin control- 5 htp at night for seratonin, DHEA I forgot what for....I have a cupboard full....Hoodia (which is also in Smartburn)

People have the dangerous and stupid idea that herbal = safe.  It is NOT the same thing.  I'd like to take a moment to remind everyone that Hemlock, Nightshade, and Oleander are all herbal and natural and incredibly poisonous very much in a kill you dead kind of way. 

First up, Zantrex 3, active ingredent is Xanthine. Xanthine is a stimulant, bronciodilator and it's very closely related chemically to caffiene. So much for "No Stimulants".

Next up is the Leptropril.  Leptopril contains (pasted straight off their web site) Yerba Mate (Leaf) SE, Guarana (Seed) SE, Caffiene, Damania (Leaf) SE, L-Tyrpsine, Acetylsalicylic acid, Green Tea (Leaf) SE, Kola Nut SE, Eucommia (bark), Schizonepeta (spica) SE, Piper Nigrum (fruit), Hoelen (aerial parts), Polygonum )root), Turmeric (rhizome).  Let's see what we have here.  Acetylsalicylic Acid...that's asprin.  Yerba Mate contains chemical compounds dervied from Xanthine called Xanthines because they're all also chemcially related to caffiene.  Then we have Guarana, which contains caffiene and xanthines.  Then they toss in some more straight caffiene.  Niiice.  Next up is Diamania which can be used to induce abortions.  Kola Nut - more caffiene.  Green Tea, yet another dose of caffiene.  Eucommia is used to produce rubber.  Schizonepeta is basically a mint.  Piper Nigur - common black pepper from your kitchen.  Tumeric, espeically in quantity and taken with some of the other things you're already taking has serious blood thinning abilities.  Holen is a mushroom that's traditionally part of insomnia remedies.  I'm sure that they're using this to take the edge off all the caffiene that you're ingesting from this crap. 

When I get back I'll do an analysis on the other two that you're taking, but I have to say that just these first 2 together ARE NOT SAFE.  You're ingesting waaay to much caffiene and could damage your heart.

Smart Burn - calcium, chromium polynicotinate, potassium, Garcinia cambogia, Gymnema sylvestre, Rhodiola rosea, Theanine, Astaxanthin, Hoodia, Vinpocetine, Green tea, N-acetyl tyrosine, Soy phospholipids.  So now lets dissect this one.  Calcium - not bad but not enough in here do anything for you.  Chromium polynicotinate - they take your chromium which helps to control you blood sugar and then ties it to Nicotene - the same stuff you get from cigarettes.   There are better ways to get chromium.   Potassium - not bad but not enough of it to be effective.  Garcinia cambogia - in some rats this has been shown to help with lipid metabolism but that has not been the case in human studies.  You'd need pounds of the stuff everyday to get the same dosage that the rats were getting.  Gymnema sylvestre will actually lower your blood sugar, not stabilize it and causes an increase in insulin production which an trigger cravings.  Kind of counter productive, don't you think?  Although they have to get you buy the next bottle somehow.  Rhodiola rosea is used in traditional medicine to treat depression.  But it takes a lot more than what they put in their tiny formula. 

I am a diet pill vet. I have taken everything known to man. They. Don't. Work. Everyone on here who says they give a temporary gain and you gain it back is entirely entirely correct. Don't waste your money.

Another suggestion? Just Drink Green Tea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It gives good, natural energy that does not make you crash. And it's yummy. Stop this diet pill nonsense. Don't buy into the advertising. Most of it is a scam.

Naturallyd is right. I posted this same question a few weeks ago and got only a few answers to your 3 pages, but a few ppl told me that they had aquantances who have irreversible health issues from taking diet pills. 

I personally took slimquick for 1 day. 1 day. and felt sick to my stomach (not "full"), felt like i was in a daze all day from all the caffeine and herbs.  I had headaches for a week after ward.  You're talking to a girl who drinks starbucks, so it couldn't have been caffeine withdrawl!

There's no miracle pill, and they don't really help.  I'd recommend more natural energy boosters like green tea or vitamins if you're just feeling sluggish. 

And you're right,  anything that says, "to swallow it fast or it might swell up in your throat causing death!"  IS NOT SAFE!!

Wow, I would stay away from that pill.  I did tons of research of stimulant free all natural weight loss supplements and ended up choosing one that i am really happy with (You Be Slim).  I've lost 30 lbs in 3 months so I am super excited!  Anything with 'may cause death' on it is NOT a good idea!!

Sarah G.