Diet Pill Addiction and Abuse
Have you developed an addiction to your diet pills? It may have started when you desperately wanted to shed weight and maintain your best figure. Or maybe you suffer from a serious eating disorder, and you are unhappy with your self-image. It can be exhausting and discouraging when you cannot reach your fitness goals.
So you pop a few diet pills. Why not? They all promise the same thing – to curb hunger, increase energy, and burn fat in no time. They are easy to get. You can find them online, in pharmacies, and in health food and grocery stores.
Maybe you started with taking one or two pills as directed. After about a month or so, you might have noticed they weren’t working so well anymore, so you increased your dose. Does this sound familiar? If you’re saying “yes,” you’re not alone. Diet pills can be really addictive. They are full of caffeine, amphetamines, herbal stimulants, and various others, which are classified as “natural and safe,” but severely affect your central nervous system.
Not only do many diet pills have potentially harmful ingredients, but it feels good to be thin. The idea of going back to the way your body was before, or possibly worse, can be a lot for anyone to have to worry about.
If you’re struggling with diet pill abuse or addiction, it’s important to understand the potential health risks, and, if you’re ready, find the right kind of help to get healthy again.
Diet Pill Addiction and Abuse
If you think you may be addicted to diet pills, you are probably right. These drugs contain an appetite suppressant medication. It stimulates the release of brain chemicals which reduce your sensation of hunger. Diet pills are also known for increasing energy levels and stamina, and create a sense of euphoria. Are you still uncertain? If your diet pills were prescribed by a doctor, or you purchased them over the counter, how can they be bad? Because they not only contain addictive ingredients, but many diet pills are unregulated and contain hidden contaminants that are dangerous to your health.These are some of the potentially life-threatening ingredients to watch out for in diet pills, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database.
- Ephedra or Ephedrine– This was banned in the U.S.; it causes high blood pressure, increased heart rate, irregular heart rate, heart attack, and stroke.
- Bitter Orange or Synephrine–Similar to Ephedra; causes headaches, vomiting, insomnia, high blood pressure, fainting, heart attack, and stroke.
- Sibutramine– A powerful stimulant that increases heart rate, arrhythmias, and stroke; it was removed from the market in 2010, but several weight-loss drugs have been illegally spiked with it.
- Fenproporex– A stimulant not approved for use in the U.S.; it is converted to amphetamine in the body and might cause heart arrhythmias and possible even sudden death. It might also be addictive.
- Phenolphthalein– An ingredient that was in some laxative products until 1999, when the Federal Drug Administration declared that it was “not generally recognized as safe and effective.” It has been found to be a hidden ingredient in several diet pills.
The FDA issued more than 30 public notifications and recalled seven tainted weight-loss products in 2014 . The agency also has issued warning letters, seized products, and criminally prosecuted people responsible for marketing illegal diet pills. You do not have to be afraid of this information. We hope this proves to you how unsafe diet pills are, and that your addiction is as serious as someone’s addiction to heroin, cocaine, or other illegal street drugs. You, too, can ask us for help to find treatment and overcome your disease.
Signs and Symptoms of Diet Pill
As you or your loved one loses control of their diet pill addiction, it can often become really difficult to maintain relationships with family, friends, and coworkers. Addiction prevents you or your loved one from doing anything social because it’s uncomfortable to be with people who ask questions you don’t want to answer. These are some of the signs you or your loved one is struggling with substance use disorder or addiction:
- Increased isolation
- Taking more risks
- Dropping hobbies and activities
- Having problems with the law
- Financial difficulties
Since addiction is progressive, it is likely that these traits – and more – continue until you seek treatment to overcome your addiction to diet pills.
Side Effects of Diet Pill
- Chest pain
- Tremors
- Irregular heartbeat
- Exhaustion
- Nausea
- Insomnia
- Stomach pain
- Mood swings or instability
- Increased paranoia and anxiety
- Nervousness and restlessness
- Depression
- Low self-esteem and body image issues
Overdose Symptoms of Diet Pills
More serious side effects of diet pill abuse occur at the point of overdose. The danger is typically associated with your cardiac health, but there is also the risk of kidney failure and liver toxicity. Heart attack, stroke, and hypertension are also commonly caused from diet pill abuse. The warning signs include, but are not limited to:
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Severe headaches
- Blurred vision
- Vomiting
Diet Pill Withdrawal and Detox
Are you worried about how withdrawal from your diet pills might feel? Everyone reacts differently to the withdrawal process. Your symptoms will depend on how long you have been using the drug and how much you have been taking. Here are some of the diet pill withdrawal symptoms that might occur as soon as six hours after your last dose. They are the most uncomfortable in the first one to two days after discontinuing your diet pills.
- Fatigue, or “brain fog”
- Weight gain
- Cravings for other drugs
- Low mood or depression
- Muscle aches
- Irritability
While you detox, you might crave your diet pills in order to feel better. The caring staff at our medical detox facilities will help you to feel safe and as calm as possible during this time. It is important to remember that detox is only the beginning of recovery from a diet pill addiction, and choosing a rehab that has a medical detox facility on-site can help make your transition to your treatment program smooth and easy. It can also reduce the chances of relapse while going from detox to rehab.
Diet Pill Treatment and Rehab
How do you know which rehab center is right for you? We will help you figure that out. A phone call with one of our counselors can help you with your decision. You will have access to people who understand diet pill addiction and the problems associated with misuse and dependency. Your recovery might require support from an eating disorder counselor, cognitive behavior therapy, or other specialized treatment.
You don’t have to commit to anything during your initial conversation if you don’t want to, but it is a great opportunity to discover all the different kinds of treatment available and what will work best for you. From withdrawal through rehab and aftercare, you can count on the rehab center staff and medical doctors to continue to support your return to health. No amount of weight loss is worth risking your life for. If you can’t stop on your own, don’t be ashamed. We are available when you are ready to discuss your options.
It is also important to know the Rehab Treatment Process:
- Step 1: Intake – When you arrive at your facility you will be assessed by the medical professionals to determine your treatment through detox, as well as your rehabilitation program.
- Step 2: Detox – After your assessment or intake, you will be taken to your room where you can rest and be monitored while you go through the withdrawal of your drug use. Detox can range from 1 day to a week, depending on the drug of choice and the user.
- Step 3: Rehab – After you finish detox you will be ready to begin your addiction treatment, which can range from a variety of different options. This is when you will be able to meet others, attend lectures, participate in group or individual counseling, and learn the tools you need to stay clean.
- Step 4: Aftercare – When your time at the facility is over, you will have to go back to your life. This can be a challenge for a lot of people, but part of your treatment includes aftercare. This is usually outpatient counseling in a group or individualized setting, where you are slowly introduced back to your life and responsibilities.
Addressing Diet Pill Addiction
If you do not believe you have an addiction to diet pills, you will not be able to change your behavior. Do you minimize the damage you have done? Do you justify yourself doing it? Do you rationalize your actions? This is denial, and it is helping you cope with your obsession to lose weight or your fear of gaining weight. If you shrug this off, you might continue abusing diet pills.
Coming to terms with your addiction will help you heal. We can help by providing you with the information and the resources you need to find a good rehab center. We are available 24/7 to discuss how you can overcome your addiction.
Helping a Friend or Family Member Address Their Diet Pill Addiction
Are you thinking about approaching your loved one about their addiction to diet pills? We know that it can be a challenge, so here are a few tips to help you take the first steps.
- Do learn all you can about diet pill addiction
- Do speak up and offer your support
- Do express love and concern
- Do support recovery as an ongoing process
- Do not preach, lecture, or threaten
- Do not cover up, lie, or make excuses for your loved one’s behavior
- Do not argue with your loved one. It might increase their feelings of guilt and prevents them from having a rational conversation.
- Do not feel guilty or responsible; it is not your fault
- Remember that you or your loved one cannot stop this diet pill addiction without help. Your loved one might promise you they will quit on their own, but more often it may or may not work. It is hard to know what to do or say. If you need help, call us and we will connect you with the right people and resources to guide you and your loved one toward a healthy recovery.
The Bottom Line: You Can Beat Diet Pill Addiction
If you’ve reached this point it is hard to deny the fact that you’re serious about beating your diet pill addiction, and that is something to have pride in and celebrate. Your life matters and there is no reason why you should allow a drug to dictate the rest of your life when help is available.
Remember, choosing to go into a diet pill rehab treatment center for diet abuse will help you rid yourself of the horrible side effects you’ve had to endure, extend your life span, and most importantly place you on track towards regaining your own life. So don’t fight addiction alone. Instead, allow us to help you live the life you deserve to have.
Payment Options for Diet Pill Abuse Treatment
Are you afraid you will not be able to afford the cost of rehab? Think about what your recovery is worth to you. More than likely, it will be less than the cost of your addiction. Right now, you might be paying for your diet pills, missing time at work, suffering from poor health and medical bills, and struggling to maintain relationships. All of that adds up to no benefits. The cost of your recovery will last you a lifetime.
How much you will have to pay depends on a number of factors:
- Your insurance plan
- Addiction type
- Treatment type
- Length of stay
- Location of treatment center
- Amenities provided
- Each insurance plan is different. Leave that up to us to figure it out for you. All you have to do is call us and you can get a free quote.
Medical disclaimer:
Sunshine Behavioral Health strives to help people who are facing substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions. It does this by providing compassionate care and evidence-based content that addresses health, treatment, and recovery.
Licensed medical professionals review material we publish on our site. The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, treatment, or advice. It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals.
