OTC diet pills can offer mild, short-term effects - appetite suppression or small metabolic boosts - but they are not a substitute for diet, exercise, and medical supervision. Know the risks, check labels, and talk to a clinician.
Ephedrine is a stimulant once common in decongestants and weight-loss supplements. It can work short term to suppress appetite and open airways, but carries serious cardiovascular, neurological and dependency risks. Regulatory actions removed ephedrine alkaloids from dietary supplements and constrained sales to reduce harm and meth production.
Ephedra (ma huang) was once a popular weight-loss supplement but was banned in U.S. dietary supplements in 2004 due to serious safety risks. Today, safe weight management relies on lifestyle changes and, when appropriate, FDA-approved prescription treatments under medical supervision.
OTC diet pills once contained ephedra and other stimulants that caused serious health and legal concerns. Many key stimulant ingredients were banned or regulated; safety today depends on ingredient, dose, and product quality. Talk to a clinician and prefer evidence-based approaches.
Updated overview of asthma medications: controllers (inhaled corticosteroids), bronchodilators, modern guideline shifts away from SABA-only strategies, role of biologics, device options, and safety cautions about herbal remedies.
Hydroxycut is now sold as ephedra-free thermogenic supplements combining caffeine and plant extracts such as hydroxycitric acid (HCA). Evidence shows at best modest weight loss; safety, dosing, and interactions merit checking labels and consulting a clinician.
Prescription weight-loss drugs (like orlistat and GLP-1 agonists) can help when combined with diet and activity; many herbal/OTC diet pills are unregulated and vary in safety.