Hi everyone,
My doc, in the UK, should be putting me on a weight loss pill hopefully. If he offers me a choice, which one should I go for? I'm on a diet/exercise program but I need something to help me as epilepsy drugs cause weight gain and I'm up to 19st..
Thanks for your time.
Debbie.

Not trying to sound insensitive, but I highly doubt that any drug causes weight gain. Only excess calories cause weight gain.

As far as pills, I wouldn't really recommend anything. It is my belief that drugs don't really help you lose weight either. Of course, I've only ever investigated OTC drugs - maybe prescription pills are different, but I'd still say you're probably better off forgetting about pills for weight loss.

I am a PCOS lady and therefore inclined to put on weight very easily and find it harder to lose weight. I was 21 stone at 5ft3.

When I combined regular exercise with very strict nutritional control (following the advice on this forum) I lost the weight. I would say that I had to work harder than the average weight loser - but it can be done if you believe that it can.

I didnt use any form of medication - other than multivitamins and supplements. Often any form of drug can have all sorts of repercussions. Many people find themselves addicted to drugs of any type.

The beauty of doing it the strict nutrition and exercise way is you know that you are in control - it is all your own work (hence you can be proud of the achievement) and most importantly you get to learn all the good habits for keeping the weight off long term. None of us want to be on any form of drugs for the rest of our lives if it is not strictly necessary. Some people may have to work harder - but that doesnt mean that it is necessary for them to take a short cut.

I've been on epilepsy meds most of my life and never saw a weight gain from it. In fact, I was way skinner then while taking the meds than I am now....and secondly, most credible doctors dont' prescribe weight loss pills, let alone giving you a choice of which one. I'd skip the pills and loose the weight the right way. Eat less....move more.

Weight loss drugs aren't the answer. Especially if you have a pre-existing medical condition of any kind, learning proper nutrition and proper exercise habits is a far more sustainable and successful method of losing weight!

There are lots of drugs out there that can cause weight gain - I dispense them every day at work. Epilepsy drugs are most definitely on the list. It might not affect everyone, but weight gain is one of the side effects.

I'm for doing it the good old fashioned way with clean diet and exercise, but sometimes weight loss medication can be a good thing to start with. Orlistat (Alli, over the counter, or Xenical on prescription) disables a certain percentage of the enzyme that breaks down fat during digestion. It therefore cannot be absorbed by the body and passes out naturally. Both Alli and Orlistat state that the medication is to be taken in conjuntion to a low fat diet, and they encourage you to be more active. For every two pounds you lose this medication should help you lose another one pound.

This drug is a motivator, but also necessary for some people who quite urgently need to lose weight for health reasons. The negative side effects, like never getting off the toilet, only happens if you exceed 19g fat in a meal. It is chemically impossible, unless you are one of those rare rare individuals with an allergy to the drug, to get this side effect unless you have eaten too much fat. Those who say they eat a salad and a chicken breast then get the runs are not being truthful about their fat consumption.

Another drug people use is called Sibutramine (Reductil). We give this out less than Orlistat, and deals more with chemicals in the brain so I wouldn't bother with it.

If you have to go for one, go for Orlistat, assuming your GP goes through everything thoroughly with you and it is ok with any other medical conditions you may have. And make sure you adhere to the rules taking it lol!