Untested Weight Loss Drugs May Cause Severe Depression
There are a lot of new medications available today specifically for treatment of depression, anxiety, erectile dysfunction, obesity, among others. The good news is that there are new drugs that offer effective treatment for patients who suffer from these ailments. While research on the safety of anti-depression drugs has been quite extensive, the materials on the effectiveness and safety of anti-obesity drugs are not as comprehensive.
In a recent study published in the United Kingdom, it was found out that patients taking certain anti-obesity drugs had an increased risk of depression and anxiety. Study also linked the drug to the development of thoughts about committing suicide.
In another study involving Danish researchers who worked with 4,105 volunteer patients found that people taking 20 milligrams per day of an anti-obesity drug were 2.5 times more likely to discontinue treatment due to depressive disorders. The patients were also three times more likely to stop medication because of anxiety compared with those who only received a placebo.
Many anti-obesity drugs being sold in different countries are actually still pending approval by many drug regulation agencies including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The reported increase of risk depression and suicidal thoughts associated with these drugs have made their chances of approval close to nil. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen believe that patients using untested and unapproved drugs would only see “modest” weight loss with many still remaining significantly overweight and obese. The researchers also found recorded several side effects—ranging from dry mouth to headaches to depression in patients who used these slimming pills.
To escape the possible dangers of using unapproved and untested anti-obesity drugs, some medical experts offer the option of undergoing bariatric surgery. Some of the surgical procedures used to promote weight loss include biliopancreatic diversion, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding, vertical banded gastroplasty. Gastric bypass is one of the most commonly used procedures in the United States, accounting for at least 140,000 operations done specifically for weight loss purposes. The said procedure has been in utilized for more than 50 years and, as such, has been sufficiently studied in the medical community.
But what is a person who wants to lose weight already shows some signs of depression? The first step is to get support and encouragement from friends and family. At times, seeing a psychiatrist or a counselor may be necessary. It is also important not to set too high expectations in terms of losing weight. The weight loss program has often been referred to as a journey, and not a race. It takes time to lose weight and any rush to shed off unwanted pounds may have serious consequences in physical and emotional terms. Of course, no diet program will work unless a person engages in regular exercise. Physical activity immensely helps in burning calories. If a weight watcher strictly follows a good and balanced eating plan while doing regular physical exercise, there is no reason why he or she cannot lose weight.