Weight Loss Treatments - Safe Diet & Slimming Pills, Acomplia, Reductil and Xenical

Clearly the best way to lose weight is to follow a healthy diet and exercise programme as outlined on our obesity advice page. Where an effort in this direction has failed, we are prepared to prescribe medications based on individual personal circumstances. There are a number of prescription weight loss medications available in the UK and we provide a brief summary of each below. We have included links to other parts of this website where more substantial information is available on each slimming pill available to prescribe.

Acomplia is the latest slimming pill to be approved for use in the UK. It was first licensed in the UK in June 2006 and we have prescribed this medication to thousands of patients throughout the UK. Acomplia has a good rate of success but it does not work for everyone.

Our bodies contain a mechanism known as the endocannabinoid system, which is thought to regulate food consumption and energy expenditure. Overweight people tend to have an overactive endocannabinoid system and Acomplia works in a way which helps to normalise this system by blocking the activity of the CB1 receptor – a key component of the endocannabinoid system.

When the CB1 receptors are blocked using this CB1 receptor antagonist, hunger pangs should be much more manageable. Acomplia is not a classic appetite suppressant but it should take the edge of your cravings and allow patients to follow a healthy diet.

There is evidence to suggest that Acomplia or Rimonabant (the chemical name) is particularly effective at getting rid of the dangerous fat that can accumulate round the middle. This fat is a key contributor to cardiovascular problems and diabetes. We have many patients who have lost their old apple shaped bodies and now have a better fat distribution.

Please follow this link for further information about Acomplia

If you register for a

, we can have a look to see if Acomplia is a suitable medication for you.

Reductil has been around for a bit longer than Acomplia and it is marketed as Meridia in the United States. Reductil does have a good rate of success but it is not appropriate for some people because of the potential side effects, which can be quite serious. Notable side effects associated with Reductil are high blood pressure and palpitations. Not everyone will get these side effects, in fact, few people do but it is important that a patient’s blood pressure is monitored every two weeks for the first three months of use and then monthly thereafter. If we prescribe Reductil then we expect our patients to report back to us on a regular basis regarding their blood pressure readings and any noted side effects. We also want to ensure that progress in terms of weight loss is being achieved.

Reductil works by inhibiting the re-uptake of certain neurotransmitters, principally serotonin and noradrenalin. These neurotransmitters are responsible for mood and satiety during and after food consumption. Reductil patients should notice that they are satisfied with less food than normal so they are more able to control their portion sizes.

Please follow this link for further information on Reductil

Reductil can be prescribed as an adjunct to diet and exercise. If you would like to check if you are suitable for Reductil, please proceed with a

Xenical is a drug known as a lipase inhibitor and it works in a localised area of the gastrointestinal system to limit the absorption of dietary fat. As our bodies require fat to function properly, you should then metabolise fat stored around your body and lose weight as a result.

It is essential that Xenical patients adopt a moderately low fat diet before they start taking Xenical. A moderately low fat diet is one where no more than 30% of calories are derived from fat. If you need specific advice on how to reduce your fat intake, please get in touch with us on consultations@theonlineclinic.co.uk

Occasionally we hear from people that they are not prepared to take Xenical because of the potential gastrointestinal side effects. Essentially, if patients stick to the mildly low fat diet then they are unlikely to get side effects which are not manageable. Weight loss can be a little slow to start with Xenical but patients normally notice some weight loss in the first few weeks of use. A weight loss of around 2 pounds a week is considered a healthy and sustainable weight loss.

We recommend that patients taking Xenical also take a vitamin supplement which contains A, D, E and K as these are fat soluble. The supplement should not be taken 2 hours either side of a Xenical capsule so the best time might be around bedtime.

For further information, please navigate to the Xenical information page.

Xenical is a prescription medication so we need to check your medical history before the medication can be prescribed. Please submit a

to see if it is suitable for you.

The Online Clinic will not prescribe phentermine or diethylpropion under any circumstances. We are always alarmed to hear that some patients have been prescribed these medications from specialist slimming clinics which are clearly employing disreputable practices. If you have purchased these medications, we would strongly recommend that you do not return to the doctor who prescribed them for you. Phentermine was withdrawn from the UK market a few years ago based on a risk/benefit analysis but it had its license reinstated for very short term use. The risk profile of this drug is not good and we do not believe that the prescription of this drug is in the best interests of patients. We apply the same opinion to diethylpropion, which has not been marketed in the UK for a number of years. Patients have developed heart and lung problems and some have developed a physical dependency on the medication, causing psychological related side effects.

Another factor to bear in mind about these two medications is that they tend to yield a dramatic weight loss over a short period of time but as soon as the medication is stopped, the weight lost, and more besides, is piled back on, leaving the patient disappointed. We cannot emphasise enough how unsuitable these treatments are for patients looking for an effective weight loss treatment.

A surgical solution to obesity is rarely used and is generally only justified where the patient has a BMI of 40 or more. Both techniques involve making the stomach smaller so the physical amount of food that the patient can consume is very much restricted.