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 Thousands of people want to lose weight. And not surprising. Urbanization, automation of many production processes, the use of mechanisms that facilitate human labor, the development of urban and industrial transport, the expansion of areas of work that do not require significant physical stress, have led to a noticeable change in the lifestyle of a modern person.
Physical activity has decreased, and this, combined with relative overeating, consumption of excessively high-calorie foods, inevitably causes an increase in body weight, often significant. And the person feels worse, looks worse. It is necessary to get rid of extra pounds. But how?
Many people find it cumbersome, time-consuming medical recommendations to increase physical activity, walk more and, of course, reduce the calorie intake. It is much easier and easier, in their opinion, to maintain the old way of life and take pills that suppress appetite. The benefit of such drugs (they are also called anorectics, or anorexigenic drugs) is becoming more and more.
Indeed, anorectics prescribed by a doctor. enable an overweight person to more easily adapt to dietary restrictions. However, by acting on the centers of the brain that regulate satiety, which ultimately contribute to a decrease in appetite, anorectics stimulate (excite) the central nervous and cardiovascular systems.
Side effects that occur while taking drugs that suppress appetite are often observed. In mild cases, this is dizziness, chills, increased irritability, heart palpitations, insomnia. In more severe cases, the heart rhythm is disturbed, blood pressure rises, and with an overdose, psychoses often develop. That is why these drugs can only be used as directed by a doctor and only under medical supervision! But the trouble is that in pursuit of harmony and beauty, anorectics are taken in large doses, without taking into account either the true need for such drugs, or contraindications to them.
Along with the symptoms of overexcitation of the central nervous and cardiovascular systems, which were noticed literally from the first steps of using anorectics, other complications have become known in recent years, causing even greater concern. Since 1967, the number of patients with high pulmonary artery pressure has increased in Sweden, Austria, West Germany and a number of other European countries. As special studies have shown, this pathology is associated with the uncontrolled intake of drugs that reduce appetite. The victims were more often middle-aged women with normal or slightly overweight, who were practically healthy before taking the drugs. After a long, systematic intake of anorectics (some after two and a half years, others after a month), fatigue, shortness of breath, cyanosis of the lips, edema, pain in the heart, increased blood pressure. Fatalities were also registered.
 All this does not allow treating anorexigenic drugs as harmless. In our country, these drugs are prescribed on special prescription forms, treatment is carried out under the strict supervision of a physician, contraindications are clearly indicated. This is primarily atherosclerosis, hypertonic disease, other vascular and heart diseases, thyrotoxicosis, diabetes, infectious diseases, increased nervous excitability, sleep disturbance... Unfortunately, many are not stopped by such "little things". As a result, the desire to lose weight at any cost, to become slim leads to a tragic result.
Recently, another sad circumstance has come to light: the unauthorized use of thyroid preparations for weight loss, in particular thyroidin. How such experiments end is demonstrated by the following case.
Patient N., 22 years old, was admitted to the therapeutic department with complaints of palpitations, pain in the region of the heart, irritability, tearfulness, severe fatigue, sweating, insomnia. The greatest concern was caused by a sharp drop in her weight over the past two years - from 54 kilograms with an increase of 153 centimeters to 38.5 kilograms. Doctors also noted trembling of hands, bulging eyes. All these symptoms made it possible to suspect thyrotoxicosis. However, a thorough examination did not confirm the fact of the enhanced function of the thyroid gland. The diagnosis remained unclear, and suddenly, quite by chance, the attending physician discovered thyroidin tablets in the patient. It turned out that, on the advice of a friend, she had been taking them for weight loss for two years. The patient was categorically forbidden to use this drug, symptomatic treatment was prescribed. Gradually her condition improved. However, at a follow-up examination five years later, she still had thyroidin-induced ovarian dysfunction.
That's what self-medication means, mindless medication! Let the rule become an immutable rule for everyone: drug treatment can be carried out only with the competent participation of a doctor. And "diet pills" are no exception to this rule.
I. G. Lavretsky
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