Conference rocks::weight_control

.0>    Do Dexatrim or similar over-the-counter appetite suppressants
.0>    work?
    
    	They will suppress your appetite, if that's what you want to
    know.
    
    	There may be other side effects.  If you have high blood
    pressure, consult your doctor first!!
    
    -mike z

    Mike,
    
    Could you be more specific on the side effects?
    For example...head aches, dizzyness???
    Also what happens to your body
    when you stop taking them?
    Is it ok to take them periodically or does that
    screw up your metabolism?  Any answers would 
    greatly be appreciated.

.2>    Could you be more specific on the side effects?
.2>    For example...head aches, dizzyness???

	General stimulant side effects ...
    
    	Rise in blood pressure is the most immediate one, along with
    an increase in resting pulse rate.
    
    	Long term effects are irritability, inability to concentrate,
    mild hand tremors, and in some case (very rare) paranoia.  If you
    drink lots of coffee already, then you're failry safe here.  Though
    I would never RECOMMEND diet pills as a way to do anything except
    spend money to lose a little weight for a short time.
                          
.2>    Also what happens to your body
.2>    when you stop taking them?
    
    	I'd guess your appetite will resume.  It might rebound stronger,
    but I'm just speculating here.
    
.2>    Is it ok to take them periodically or does that
.2>    screw up your metabolism?
    
      	Usually, when you stop taking stimulants the withdrawal symp-
    toms are similar to the effects of taking a sedative.  Loss of
    energy and motivation are the most common.
    
    	Some people experience mood swings on diet pills.  I've taken
    them when I was younger, I never had the mood swings, but then again
    I only used them for a short time.  Once off them, I gained the
    weight back after a few months.
    
    -mike z

    This is an interesting question; I think the effectiveness of
    those OTC diet pills depends on how you define "appetite".
    
    They may work fine to quell actual physical appetite (i.e.,
    you won't feel physically hungry), BUT--what about those of us
    who don't eat because we're really hungry?  In other words, 
    I eat because I love to eat, whether I'm hungry or not--and 
    diet pills don't TOUCH that kind of "appetite" (at least for
    me they never did.)  They're basically just a good way
    to fool yourself and waste your money ...
    
    Laurie 

    Phenylpropanolamine HCl, the active ingredient in Dexatrim is 
    really nothing more than an antihistimine.  It can be found 
    Alka-Seltze Plus Cold medicine and Night-time medicine.
    
    Jodi-