Several overweight people are in a desperate hurry to shed excess weight and have neither the time nor the inclination to do the physical workouts and follow a balanced diet plan. They want some quick fix solutions to lose weight and decide to try diet pills as a way out. Maybe their friends are buying these pills or they must have seen some press advertisement or a commercial on television about weight loss pills.

In their over enthusiasm, these obese people seldom realize that weight loss pills can cause pernicious side effects. You find in the market two types of weight loss diet pills – those that are sold only against prescriptions and others freely available as Over-the-Counter (OTC) diet pills. Most weight loss pills available in the market are supposed to be fat burners or fat blockers or appetite suppressants.

The prescription drug pills are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration agency (FDA), and they may be prescribed for weight loss under certain conditions and to be taken in limited doses. Some of the prescription diet pills are Meridia (Sibutramine), Xenical (Orlistat), Adipex, Bontril, Didrex, Phentermine and Tenuate. Prescription diet pills are recommended for those suffering from extraordinary obesity conditions with a body mass index of 35plus.

The OTC weight loss pills, on the other hand, are sold in huge quantities and the reason is these weight loss pills are classified and sold as diet pills and as food supplements and not as weight loss pills and there is also no regulatory authority overseeing the sales. These weight loss pills are not tested by Federal authorities like prescription diet pills.

So people buy and consume these pills in good quantities little realizing the harmful side effects. What make things worse is the manufacturers of these OTC diet pills are invariably driven only by commercial interests and seldom come forward to provide you details about the possible side effects.

It is somewhat alarming to know that diet pills industry is growing leaps and bounds and the manufacturers are now producing diet pills that work on the brain to suppress appetite. The side effects and risks of OTC diet and weight loss pills can be very high as many of these pills contain a cocktail of harmful ingredients. The likely side effects include – nerve damage, uncontrollable tremor, chronic diarrhea, swollen eyes, rapid palpitations, enhanced blood pressure even cardiac arrest.

If you are seriously obese and all other healthy methods to lose weight has proved unrewarding, then you can consult your doctor and ask him to suggest some prescription weight loss pills suited to your body condition. In all such cases, the doctor will study your complete medical history, ascertain the drugs you are presently taking, conduct a physical examination, will recommend the right diet pills and also closely monitor your progress.

Even when you start regularly taking the prescription diet pills, make sure you do not exceed the doses. If side effects are noticed, then immediately report the matter to the doctor. When prescription diet pills are taken under medical supervision and if they are coupled with a proper diet and exercise program, then these pills may prove effective - at least in the short term.