Introduction

Within the USA the off label usage of diet pills can be explained according to the following two principles. First, once a diet pill is approved by the FDA the manufacturer and the FDA agree the wording that will be used in its label and packaging, specifying what it is for and how it should be administered. However, and secondly, once approved by the FDA physicians are at liberty to prescribe that diet pill to treat other conditions, not specified on the label or packaging, or indeed to alter the recommended dosage, method of administration or even the age group it can be used with.

What does this mean for diet pill users

Subsequently the implications of being able to use diet pills off label are potentially many and varied. In the next section we’ll look in particular at the implications for off label use of Sibutramina diet pills; however, generally the idea that a diet pill can be used either for or in a way that was not originally intended means that, for example and under correct medical guidance, a weight loss program could be accelerated. Also, many of the more modern slimming aids prescribed by physicians are chemically similar to anti-depressants. So it could be a patient in need of an anti-depressant could feasibly be prescribed a diet pill to treat their condition. This would, of course, be particularly appropriate if the depression was caused by being over-weight or if the usual anti-depressants like fluoxetine (Prozac) failed to suit the person concerned.

The off label usage of Sibutramina diet pills

Also known by various other names but most notably as Meridia, Sibutramine and Reductil – Sibutramina is a market leader in helping obese people to lose weight. A Sibutramina treatment program usually incorporates a program of exercise and controlled dieting to be conducted alongside taking the diet pills. The label uses of Sibutramina recommend its use for those with a Body Mass Index of over 30kg/m² or 27kg/m² if the patient is at risk from other factors due to over-weight/obesity, such as type 2 diabetes or dyslipidaemia. Whilst those might be the agreed uses for Sibutramina treatment programs a physician is, of course, perfectly entitled prescribe Sibutramina for people falling outside of those two groups. An example here could be someone with a current BMI of 25kg/m² who the physician is concerned that they will not be able to maintain or lower their BMI and yet is also known to have a propensity towards say type 2 diabetes. Basically the question the physician would consider is – should they wait until the person is obese and prescribe Sibutramina or should they get them on a preventative Sibutramina treatment program now?

Off label dosages of diet pills

Another way a physician might approach off label usage of diet pills is in the dosage they prescribe. Taking Sibutramina diet pills as an example again; a Sibutramina treatment program will usually begin with a 10mg dose pill taken once a day, were that not to be effectual the on label use recommends moving to a 15mg dose. However, applying the principal of off label usage the physician, using his or her medical knowledge could prescribe an intermediate dosage of say 12.5mg or, they might even prescribe a lower dosage at 5mg of Sibutramina or even, with extreme caution and close monitoring of the patient, a higher dosage.

Sibutramina as a diet pill

Being so effective in helping obese people to lose weight means that the weight loss properties of Sibutramina have inevitably come to the attention of people who, although not classed as obese, want to lose weight and slim. As such Sibutramina is frequently requested as a diet pill by those who are not clinically obese. Again, under the FDAs own rules on off label uses, if your physician agrees to prescribing it – using Sibutramina as a diet pill is perfectly OK. The important thing here is to get your physicians approval, which if you need to lose weight that need can be linked to some other medical condition – he or she is more likely to approve the request for a Sibutramina treatment program. For example, if you want to use Sibutramina diet pills just to get into a size smaller dress or tuxedo for a special evening out – you’re probably not going to succeed. However, if your weight is causing you to become depressed or putting you at risk of say type 2 diabetes or heart related problems etc – then on a preventative basis using Sibutramina off label may well be approved.