Diet Pills

• What are anorectic drugs (diet pills)?
• How are they taken?
• What are the effects?
• What are the dangers?
• Are they addictive?

What are anorectic drugs (diet pills)?

• Anorectic drugs are marketed as appetite suppressants.
  
• They are similar to the dangerous drug class of Amphetamines.
  
• Anorectic drugs include: benzphetamine (Didrex), diethylproprion (Tenuate, Tepanil), fenfluramine (pondimin), mazindol (Sanorex, Mazanor), phendimetrazine (Bontril, Prelu-2, Plegine) and phentermine (Ionamine, AdipexP).

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How are they taken?

• Most diet pills can be purchased in the drug store without a prescription.
  
• They are swallowed (taken orally) to suppress appetite.

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What are the effects?

• Effects are similar to amphetamines, but are generally less potent.
  
• They speed up the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

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What are the dangers?

• The dangers are similar to those of amphetamines.
  
• Some weight-loss products contain stimulants or diuretics that can cause high blood pressure, irregular heart rate, sleep problems, nervousness, seizures, and even death.
  
• Excessive weight loss can be dangerous.

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Are they addictive?

Diet pills are not considered an addictive drug like cocaine, heroin or alcohol because they do not produce the same compulsive drug-seeking behavior. However, people can become dependent on diet pills in the same way they can become dependent on caffeine or other stimulants.

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