I don't like this. I think that people these days have become too addicted to fast track fixes for everything. Chemical dependence goes beyond illegal drugs in my opinion. I see people taking medications like Ibuprofen and Tylenol for very minor minor ailments. Allergy medications and decongestants fit under this as well. If I get a headache or any kind of ache I try my hardest to push through without the aid of pain killers. I increase water intake and rest/stretch whatever it is that needs the attention. I've been doing this for about four years now. I wait for days with a cold before I try any decongestants because I'd rather let my body fight it's own fight. I see these pills in the same light. Me a year ago may have been a little more interested in what's offered, but at this point in my life I've trained myself to deal with the symptoms without the aid of medication. And I think that this is something that everyone on this planet can do. It's tough to work out but all you need is dedication.
With that being said, I wonder what will happen with people once they start and when they stop taking this medicine. For one, what will people do when they lose the weight and then go off the drug? Have they really learned any lessons to apply to their lives? I doubt a prescription will last a lifetime. I read two things that stood out about these drugs.
- Diet and exercise are necessary to lose weight
- If you don't lose weight in 5 months then it's advised to stop taking it
.... So what is the point of taking a drug like this when you can learn the habits free of medication? I get that there are people worse off than I was when it came to binge eating and other disorders, but anything is possible. I feel better about myself because I'm losing weight without the aid of surgeries, supplements, and shortcuts. I'm doing this the proper way.
And the biggest reason I'm against this drug is simply because of the risks involved. If you remember, before these drugs there was the miracle drug Fen-Phen. The FDA approved it against the wishes of the medical officer at the time. He saw the heart risks and wanted to put a black box warning on the package. The rest of the people at the FDA saw dollar signs and found someone else in the organization to approve it. People swarmed to take Fen-Phen and then all of a sudden people were dying of hypertension and heart valve problems. That was about 15 years years ago. Since then the FDA has seen it's criticisms over policies restricting blood collection from homosexual men at the Red Cross (Even though they test all blood for AIDS and HIV), protecting US pharmaceutical companies by making it harder for foreign companies to get their drugs approved, and stances against medical cannabis despite research finding it's value. Already the weight loss drugs have a short list of side effects. These include
- Increased heart rate
- Suicidal behavior and ideation
- Acute myopia (Nearsightedness) and secondary angle closure glaucoma (A specific form of glaucoma)
- Mood/Sleep disorders
- Cognitive impairment (may cause attention or memory disturbances)
- Metabolic acidosis (The body produces too much acid- Metabolic acidosis itself usually causes rapid breathing, confusion, or lethargy.
- Elevated creatinine (causes kidney damage)
- (If you take medicines for diabetes) Weight loss may cause hypoglycemia (Low blood sugar)
Why put yourself at risk for any of these health factors? I'm sure as the medicine is used there will be more side effects that come up. The side effects of proper diet and exercise? (AKA: The hard way.)
- Weight loss
- Increased Self Discipline
- Increased Self Esteem
These are just my thoughts on the matter. I wanna hear what you think!
I won't go any further from here but I would like to direct you to the information to the right. I have updated all of my measurements and I'm proud to say that I'm down to 355 pounds! Woo hoo! That's all for now! I'll catch you again soon!
I lied. Here's a commercial talking about everything that's wrong with pharmaceuticals these days. Sure it cures your ailment, but what do you do with all the other ones it gives you?