What should I watch out for when taking herbal medicine for weight loss?

Key points in 30 seconds

1. Being herbal doesn't mean there are no side effects.
2. A racing heart and sleeplessness are the first changes to watch for.
3. Let us know in advance if you have blood pressure, heart, or thyroid problems.
4. If you take any medications, tell us the full list as it is.
5. Don't take products whose ingredients are unknown.

What we often hear

• "I heard herbal medicine can make your heart race."
• "I'm already on some medication. Can I take them together?"
• "I'm worried about side effects."

What should I watch out for when taking herbal medicine for weight loss?

The first changes to watch for are a racing heart or trouble sleeping. Some of the herbs that suppress appetite also have these effects.

We don't tell you that "it's herbal, so there are no side effects." Anything that acts on the body can also have effects you don't want. It's safer to know this before you start.

Who needs to be especially careful?

People with high blood pressure, a heart diagnosis, an overactive thyroid, or severe insomnia. In these cases, we change the prescription itself.

The same goes for people who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding. If you take any medications, you must tell us the list. Some things affect each other when taken together.

What changes should I tell you about?

If your heart races, your hands shake, you have trouble falling asleep, you have trouble urinating, or you get headaches, tell us right away.

Some people put up with it and keep taking the medicine. Then the chance to adjust is lost. In most cases we can lower the dose or change the formula and continue, so it's important to let us know.

How long can I take it?

It's not a medicine you take indefinitely. The original plan is to use it for the target period, then keep the weight off through how you eat and move.

Appetite held down by medicine comes back when you stop. If your lifestyle hasn't changed in the meantime, the weight comes back too. The time you take the medicine is time bought to change your lifestyle.

What are the limits of this assessment?

We don't have numbers on who gets what discomfort, or how much. What we've written here is based on known cautions and what we've seen in the clinic.

Here is something important. Don't take diet pills bought online or products whose ingredients are unknown. If you don't know what's in them, you can't know what to watch out for either. If you're taking something like that, it's safer to bring it to your visit and show us.

We start by asking what medications you take. Some things shouldn't be taken together, so we need to check before you start.

If you already take any medications, please be sure to tell us. We'll first check whether it's safe to add this on top.

What to watch out for depends on your condition and the other medications you take.