Slim Medical - Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Weight Loss Center
Medical Weight Loss - Frequently Asked Questions - Part 2
Q: What is Phentermine, in use for medical weight loss?
A: One of the oldest classes of medications available for weight loss are the stimulant / amphetamine equivalents. Stimulants have the side effect of affecting the brain’s appetite center, causing decreased hunger and appetite. As such, they have been widely used for medical weight loss. The one that is currently widely used with a fairly good safety record is Phentermine. Phentermine is effective for appetite suppression and weight loss, with a long track record of safety and efficacy. Phentermine cannot be used for longer than 3 months at a time, and when it is stopped, hunger can return to its previous level. Unless on a careful follow-up diet and exercise regimen, one can potentially regain some of the lost weight within the next 1-2 years.
Q: What is Vitamin B12, in use for medical weight loss?
A: Vitamin B12 is simply an essential vitamin that is needed by all the cells of the body in order to carry out their daily metabolic functions. Vitamins usually serve to aid enzymes, meaning that they are catalysts for carrying out certain biochemical reactions. The role of Vitamin B12 in catalyzing metabolic reactions means that its presence is crucial for proper energy utilization and release. Vitamin B12 therefore aids in burning energy stores, as well as providing the energy that a fasting person needs in order to ward off hunger and weakness. Vitamin B12 has been extensively utilized as the main ingredient of weight loss protocols and diet plans, with fairly good results. One main drawback of Vitamin B12 is that it is not well absorbed in large doses orally, and must be given parenterally (meaning not ingested through the GI tract) to have this intended effect. It is usually given as an intramuscular injection. However, in Slim Medical’s formulation, it is conveniently administered sublingually (meaning under the tongue), thereby bypassing the GI tract while maintaining the convenience of avoiding an injection.
Q: What is Orlistat, in use for medical weight loss?
A: Orlistat (or Xenical) is a medication that prevents the absorption of fat in the GI tract (intestines). It prevents the breakdown of more complex fat molecule into simple fatty acids, thereby preventing their absorption by the intestinal tract. Therefore, the fat stays in the intestine, and subsequently passes out the other end. That sounds like a good strategy. The problem is that the unabsorbed fat has significantly unwanted side effects. Feelings of bloating and cramping are common. Worse, the excess fat causes fatty and oily stools, flatulence (passing gas) and even fecal incontinence (unintended loss of stool). As these effects are most unpleasant, and the weight loss associated with Orlistat (Xenical) is modest at best, Orlistat is not recommended by us. It mostly only serves as a punishing deterrent for eating fatty foods, and we do not subscribe to punishment as a means of weight loss.