Diet pills refer to a broad variety of supplements in capsule form intended to help one lose weight. Some are herbal dietary supplements, other claim to be 'fat burners' or 'fat blockers.'http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20090611_Kimberly_Garrison__Forget_pills___gimmicks__Exercise__diet_work_best.html, Some are medications regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and include Adipex, Merida, Phentermine and others. Others lack testing and are sold unregulated. All drugs have side effects and care should be taken to select one you feel is safe, and watch closely for dangerous side effects.

The Mayo Clinic warns that some herbal diet pills including those with chromium, bitter orange, guar gum, green tree extract and other herbs are not only untested, but can be dangerous.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss/HQ01160

Some over the counter drugs have been approved by the FDA; The most recent being Alli. Alli is purported to block the absorption of fat as it moves through the digestive system though it's active ingredient Orlistat.http://www.myalli.com/About_alli/alli_in_the_body.aspx

The first prescription diet pill became available in 1950. It was simply an amphetamine, marketed as an appetite suppressant for weight loss. It's use led to many drug overdose and drug dependency issues, and it was phased out in the 1960s. http://www.docshop.com/2008/02/11/a-short-history-of-diet-pills-and-weight-loss-drugs-part-one/

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor or pharmacist before using the information presented here.

On May 11, 2009, the popular diet aide "Hydroxycut" recalled 14 of their products after receiving reports of severe liver injuries ranging from jaundice to death. A full list of recalled Hydroxycut products can be found herehttp://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090501/hydroxycut-recall-due-to-liver-injuries

Other diet pills have also been recalled due to cardiovascular problems, kidney failure, seizures, and a range of other issueshttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/133954.php

The following side effects are common to many diet pills. Please consult your doctor (for prescription diet pills) or the product documentation (for over-the-counter medications) for additional side effects specific to an individual medication.

• High blood pressure
• Cardiovascular disease
• Fainting or lightheadedness
• Kidney stones
• Chest pains and shortness of breath
• Loss of appetite
• Excess gas and gas pains
• Diarrhea, constipation or incontinence
• Nausea and vomitting
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Increased risk of heart attack and cardiac arrest
• Dry mouth and dehydration
• Insomnia
• nervousness, anxiety, panic attacks, and anxiety attacks
• Headaches
• Hallucinations
• Fever

Alert your doctor to any side effects you may be experiencing to ensure they are not dangerous to your overall health.http://www.docshop.com/2008/02/18/a-short-history-of-diet-pills-and-weight-loss-drugs-part-two/ http://health.howstuffworks.com/health-illness/treatment/medicine/medications/diet-pill3.htm http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19587389/ http://weightlossinternational.com/newsletter/diet-pills.html

Fen-Phen is a combination of the individual drugs Fenfluramine and Phentermine. Approved by the FDA in 1973 and 1959 respectively, they were combined in the early 1990s and marketed as an appetite suppressant under the names Redux, Pondimin, Fenfluramine, and Dexfenfluramine. The effective drug gained popularity, and in 1996, more than 18 million Americans were using the product to fight obesity.

Though it delivered fast results, it was by no means safe. A study by New England Journal of Medicine in 1996 found that use of Fen-Phen caused a 2300% increase in pulmonary hypertension. Gradually, cases of valvular heart disease and pulmonary hypertension were reported, and concern began to grow over the safety of the product. When a 30 year old woman died after a month's use of Fen-Phen in 1996, the FDA requested all cases of heart problem in which Fen-Phen was the likely cause be reported. In September 1997, the FDA requested the product be removed from the market. A subsequent study found that 30% of people that had taken Fen-Phen suffered from abnormal echo-cardiograms.

A class-action lawsuit including over six million people who took the drug resulted in a payout of $3.75 billion by the makers of the drug, American Home Products Corporation. Only those who received echocardiograms as proof of heart damage can collect on this settlement.

Phentermine is still available on the market today, and is not believed to be dangerous on it's own. http://health.howstuffworks.com/health-illness/treatment/medicine/medications/diet-pill3.htm http://www.fenphenattorney.com/html/faq.html#whatis http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/337/9/581 http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/08/business/fen-phen-maker-to-pay-billions-in-settlement-of-diet-injury-cases.html?pagewanted=all http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/weight-loss-prescription-weight-loss-medicine http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20081105/lasting-heart-damage-from-fen-phen http://www.docshop.com/2008/02/18/a-short-history-of-diet-pills-and-weight-loss-drugs-part-two/