Appetite suppressants: active ingredients to regulate hunger

If patients need to lose weight for medical reasons, appetite suppressants can help with the weight loss process. There are various medications that differ in their modes of action and applications – and over-the-counter preparations with natural ingredients are also available on the market. Find out here what effects appetite suppressants have on the body and what you need to bear in mind when taking the various medications.

Appetite suppressants: what are they?

Appetite suppressants (also known as anorectics) are products that affect the feeling of satiety . They suppress hunger, which usually causes users to automatically limit their calorie intake.

There are various types of appetite suppressants on the market that are designed to help people lose weight. They can basically be divided into 2 categories:

1. Preparations containing medicinal substances (e.g. Wegovy® or Saxenda® ): Medicines from these doctors require a prescription because the substances they contain have a strong effect on the body. Before use, a doctor must therefore rule out any contraindications or interactions with other medications that the patient is taking.
2. Natural appetite suppressants : These products use the action of herbal substances that are said to have an appetite-suppressing effect. Often, so-called bulking agents made from fiber are used here, which bind water in the stomach or intestines and are supposed to provide a feeling of satiety. However, the effectiveness of most herbal appetite suppressants has not been scientifically proven .

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Important : Users can only achieve measurable and, above all, sustainable weight loss if they combine appetite-regulating preparations with a low-calorie diet and increased exercise . Otherwise, the well-known yo-yo effect quickly sets in after the medication has stopped: the body feels more hungry again without the medicinal support, so that patients run the risk of gaining weight due to the increased calorie intake.

Prescription appetite suppressants: preparations for obesity

Prescription appetite suppressants are a therapeutic measure to medically counteract severe overweight and obesity .

Important : Treatment with appetite-regulating drugs is not suitable for people of normal weight. Instead, a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or more or 27 kg/m2 is required – especially if the excess weight is accompanied by at least one other disease such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes (diabetes mellitus).

Liraglutide is currently one of the active ingredients used to treat severe obesity. Doctors originally used the substance to treat high blood sugar levels caused by type 2 diabetes. However, many patients reported weight loss, reduced appetite and fewer cravings while taking liraglutide.

The active ingredient is now also approved for the treatment of severe obesity with at least one weight-related comorbidity, as well as obesity. It is used as a supplement to a low-calorie diet and increased physical activity. The drug is administered in the form of a liraglutide solution, which patients inject under the skin using an injection pen , a type of small syringe.

There are also appetite suppressants with the related drugs tirzepatide and semaglutide , which can medically support the weight loss process. These can also relieve excessive appetite and cravings and are injected under the skin.

Would you like to know whether a medical appetite suppressant is suitable for you and your medical condition? Then request treatment directly using the Prime Weight Loss Clinic service . You can simply submit the most important information from home using a medical questionnaire . After the evaluation, our doctors will give you an individual treatment recommendation for your personal path to your desired weight. If you are medically suitable, you can request a prescription for a medicine that will support you in your planned weight loss.

Losing weight with natural appetite suppressants – is that possible?

Some herbal substances are said to have a satiating effect. These include extracts of mate and guarana , which are usually available as tablets or capsules for weight loss: some users report a slight appetite-suppressing effect and a slightly reduced craving after taking them. However, these assumptions have not yet been scientifically proven .

The same applies to the so-called swelling agents, such as:

• (Apple) pectin
• cellulose
• Alginate
• Glucomannan

Bulking agents get their name from the way they work: the substances are usually fibers that bind water in the stomach or intestines and therefore swell up. The reaction is supposed to be a feeling of satiety.

However, so far there are only studies on the dietary fiber glucomannan that prove the appetite-regulating effect for overweight people. However, the following also applies here: taking glucomannan requires an accompanying change in diet or diet in order to achieve measurable and sustainable weight loss.

Important: Users should always combine capsules containing bulking agents such as glucomannan with sufficient liquid : the recommendation is 1-2 glasses of water per intake. Otherwise, side effects such as feeling full, stomach pain or flatulence may result.

Are appetite suppressants dangerous?

Prescription appetite suppressants meet medical standards and are therefore suitable for the medicinal treatment of severe overweight and obesity . However, like all drugs that are only available on prescription, these appetite suppressants can also be associated with side effects or contraindications . For this reason, appetite suppressants may only be taken after consulting a doctor.

Good to know : If you want to try nutritional supplements with an appetite-suppressing effect, you should not be afraid to seek advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Even over-the-counter preparations can interact with other medications.

Not suitable for weight loss: Sibutramine

Various ingredients that were previously used to treat severe obesity are no longer approved . This includes, for example, sibutramine , which was available in the drug Reductil® until 2010. In many cases, the substance caused undesirable side effects that significantly affected the cardiovascular system in particular . For this reason, the use of sibutramine in weight loss medications is now prohibited.

Caution: Some dietary supplements that describe themselves as “natural diet pills” or “fat burners” contain illegal substances such as sibutramine, according to studies. However, the manufacturers usually fail to mention these prohibited substances in the ingredients list of these preparations, which are often offered on dubious websites . You should therefore only purchase over-the-counter appetite suppressant products from stationary or certified online pharmacies.

Appetite suppressant with addictive potential: Amfepramone

The active ingredient amfepramone was used for a long time in the drug Tenuate® Retard to treat obesity. However, it has not been approved since the beginning of 2023, so drugs containing amfepramone are no longer on the market in the EU .

The reason: The drugs were often used for longer than the maximum approved 3 months. In addition, many patients used amfepramone despite existing contraindications, such as cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders or during pregnancy. As a result, the risk of serious side effects and drug dependency increases significantly, so that the expected benefits do not outweigh the possible risks.

Conclusion: Appetite suppressants for severe obesity

Active ingredients such as tirzepatide , liraglutide or semaglutide can be helpful in cases of weight loss that is necessary for health reasons. The substances suppress the appetite, which means that the feeling of satiety occurs sooner. This means that even small amounts of food are usually enough to satisfy hunger. However, the way these drugs work can cause side effects, such as changes in blood sugar levels, or interactions with other medications. This is why medications containing tirzepatide, liraglutide and semaglutide are prescription-only .

There is no scientific evidence that natural preparations that are also supposed to promote weight loss are successful . Only studies for the bulking agent glucomannan exist that confirm a slight appetite-suppressing effect. However, both natural appetite suppressants and corresponding medications require a parallel diet and sufficient exercise for patients to lose weight.

Also interesting:

• Fat binders: tablets for a comfortable weight?
• Carbohydrate blockers – a help for losing weight?

frequently asked Questions

When are appetite suppressants used?

A prerequisite for medical treatment with prescription appetite suppressants is a BMI of at least 30 kg/m2. If patients also suffer from diseases such as type 2 diabetes or severe high blood pressure, the doctor can also prescribe therapy if the BMI is 27 kg/m2 or higher.

Why do appetite suppressant drugs require a prescription?

Appetite suppressants are often associated with interactions and contraindications. The active ingredients tirzepatide, liraglutide and semaglutide, for example, affect blood sugar levels and must not be combined with other GLP-1 receptor antagonists (which include tirzepatide, semaglutide and liraglutide). A medical assessment is necessary to guarantee safe use.

Which appetite suppressants are illegal?

Products containing sibutramine and amfepramone are illegal in Germany. Both active ingredients can cause severe, sometimes harmful side effects, so their approval in Europe has been withdrawn.

Medically reviewed by:
Natalia Olaizola-Horst

Medical Author

After studying pharmacy at the Free University of Berlin, Natalia Olaizola-Heil received her license as a pharmacist in 1997. She worked in both hospital pharmacies and public pharmacies and completed further training in the areas of nutritional counseling and palliative medicine. Natalia Olaizola-Horst supports Prime Weight Loss Clinic in medical text creation and review.