Recognizing Diet Pill Abuse

Diet pills are types of pharmacological substances that are used to help control or lose weight.

Most diet pills aren’t approved by the FDA for safe use, and many contain ingredients that can be harmful to your health – especially if used over a long period of time. They tend to include addictive substances, like caffeine or herbal stimulants, which can quickly lead to addiction.

Signs of Abuse

Here are a few common signs of diet pill abuse:

• Rapid weight loss. Diet pills can cause rapid weight loss, mostly due to a sudden reduction in water weight.
• Anxiety. The stimulating ingredients in most diet pills can cause physical and mental anxiety symptoms, like rapid heart rate, racing thoughts, sweaty palms or hand tremors.
• Insomnia. Diet pills can also cause insomnia and disruptions in sleep patterns due to restlessness.
• Digestive issues. Because diet pills are designed to flush the body of excess water weight, they can also cause digestive disturbances like diarrhea, upset stomach or cramping.
• Adverse effects. In some cases, diet pills can cause extremely adverse or fatal consequences due to congestive heart failure, stroke or respiratory failure.
• Menstrual problems. In women, diet pill abuse can also cause irregularities in the menstrual cycle.

If you or someone you know shows symptoms of diet pill abuse, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately. Diet pills can cause dangerous psychological and physical disturbances that may require a serious intervention.

Source: Mayo Clinic