Diet Pill Addiction Treatment: About, Symptoms & Warning Signs
Do you feel overweight? Have you tried every diet imaginable in an attempt to kick those extra ten pounds? Your efforts have not worked or you’ve reached a plateau, so you picked up some diet pills. At first, it made sense. They gave you energy, and your body was starting to look great. However, what started as something innocent – a way to shed some excess weight – quickly turned into something much more serious: a diet pill addiction.
Are you unsatisfied with your self-image and self-esteem? You might be thin, but if you have body image issues, you don’t see it that way. Sometimes people with eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia, turn to diet pills to avoid eating or curb an appetite.
With societal pressure to be thin, it’s no wonder that teenage women feel the pressure to utilize diet pills. A recent study found that more than half of all Americans use some form of dietary supplement.
After picking up your diet pills online or at your local grocery store, you took them as prescribed. Over time, you tried just an extra pill or two on top of what was recommended. It worked. But now you need the pills to make it through a day. Diet pill addiction in Texas is a real problem. Many people, especially women, are exhibiting symptoms of diet pill addiction and don’t realize it.
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Your Quick Weight Loss Fix Left You Addicted
Diet pills can stimulate your brain, reduce sensations of hunger, increase energy levels, and create a sense of euphoria. Because they appear to work and feel good, many don’t see the danger. If they were located in the medicine aisle or recommended by a doctor, why wouldn’t they be safe? However, most diet pills are unregulated and contain chemicals that are detrimental to your health.
If you’re purchasing diet pills, you should know what’s going in your body. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is strict about what they allow on the market. As a result, some diet pills make it onto the shelves unapproved. Be aware of some chemicals, as reported by Forbes:
- Phenolphthaelein: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration listed this as a suspected carcinogen.
- Sibutramine: Formerly its own diet pill, but was pulled off shelves in 2010 for raising the risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Clenbuterol: Steroid that can damage the heart. It’s illegal, but it’s easily available for purchase.
- Ephedrine: Banned drug that causes high blood pressure, irregular heart rate, heart attack, increased heart rate, and stroke.
- Fenproporex: Not approved for the U.S. market. The body turns it into amphetamines and can cause arrhythmia – an abnormal heart rhythm.
Addiction Warning Signs
Diet pill addiction is a serious matter. Many people are suffering at the hand of a pill they meant to use for something good. If you have used diet pills, you might have experienced some of the short-term effects of diet pills.
Long-term consequences of diet pill addiction are even more extreme than the short-term effects. If you’re experiencing any of the long-term effects, you may need diet pill addiction treatment in Texas.
Short and Long-term Diet Pill Effects
Some short-term effects might indicate a diet pill addiction, including:
- Unstable weight
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Headaches
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Tightness in chest
- Stroke
- Respiratory failure
- Heart palpitations
- Mood swings
- Increased paranoia
- Anxiety
- Depression
Long-term can include:
- Depression
- Unstable weight
- Appetite fluctuations
- Insomnia
- Heart palpitations
- Sex drive disturbances
- Urinary tract difficulties
- Congestive heart failure
- Stroke
- Respiratory failure
It’s Possible to Overdose on Diet Pills
If you know someone who has overdosed, they need diet pill addiction treatment immediately. The first thing you should do it call 911 immediately if they show any signs of an overdose. They are at immediate risk of potentially deadly consequences. Overdose symptoms can include:
- Seizures
- Severe headaches
- Vomiting
- Hallucinations
- Blurred vision