Why Does Taking Weight Loss Pills Cause an Increased Heart Rate?

1. Weight Loss Pills' Impact on the Heart and Body

For those who are overweight or obese, using weight loss pills to achieve a healthier body within a certain period can be particularly beneficial. However, some of these weight loss medications can produce changes that affect the heart and the body.

Individuals who are overweight and obese often face serious risks such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke. Additionally, for these individuals, the heart has to work harder. Being overweight or obese can cause the heart to beat faster, leading to weakened heart muscles and potentially resulting in congestive heart failure. An excessively high heart rate can cause blood pressure to drop too low, leading to dizziness.

Using weight loss pills can lead to similar heart-related issues. The reason is that these medications often contain stimulants, which make users feel alert and less interested in food.

Some Weight Loss Pills That Affect the Heart and Body

• Saxenda: Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014, Saxenda is selected for the treatment and management of chronic weight in patients. The drug's effect slows down gastric emptying, thereby helping with weight loss. However, clinical trials have indicated that it may lower systolic blood pressure and is associated with increased heart rate. These factors could lead to serious events affecting the heart, such as heart attacks or even death.
• Wegovy: This medication may increase the risk of developing heart disease and can cause arrhythmias. It also works by emptying the stomach, facilitating the weight loss process.
• Contrave: Approved by the FDA in 2014, this drug is effective in treating obesity. However, its use has been linked to increased blood pressure and heart rate in patients.

Improper use of weight loss pills also causes many side effects to the body

2. Why Does the Heart Beat Faster When Taking Weight Loss Pills?

A rapid heartbeat is defined as a heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute at rest. These episodes of rapid heart rate can last from a few seconds to several hours. An increased heart rate can occur due to strenuous exercise or the use of weight loss pills. So, why does the heart beat faster when taking weight loss pills?

The fast heartbeat when using weight loss pills is primarily due to the active ingredients in these medications. These components work by boosting the body's metabolism to optimize energy burning and facilitate effective weight loss. However, alongside this process, the medication also impacts heart rate. Particularly for individuals sensitive to conditions like atrial fibrillation—an arrhythmia—this can lead to more frequent episodes of irregular heartbeat.

The increase in heart rate when taking weight loss pills is not only due to the stimulants present in the medications but also the quality of the pills. Fake or low-quality weight loss pills can have a negative impact on both heart health and overall well-being.

Ingredients in weight loss pills can cause heart palpitations

3. Dangerous Signs When Using Weight Loss Pills

• Increased Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke: The stimulants in weight loss pills affect the body's metabolism and increase heart rate to burn excess energy.
• Liver Damage: The liver processes nutrients from food and helps eliminate toxins from the body while stabilizing blood sugar levels. However, using low-quality weight loss pills can lead to acute liver poisoning and liver failure. The liver must process various components and chemicals in the medication, resulting in the accumulation of toxic enzymes. Cases of weight loss pills causing hepatitis can lead to permanent liver damage. Additionally, liver damage may manifest as jaundice symptoms.
• Digestive Issues: Using weight loss pills can cause discomfort in the digestive tract because these medications prevent the absorption of fats, altering the digestion process. Some digestive problems include stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea.
• Generalized Edema: Prolonged use of weight loss pills can push the liver and kidneys to work at full capacity. This prolonged strain can lead to multiple organ failure, such as kidney failure, fatigue, and generalized swelling.
• Skin Inflammation: Some weight loss pills contain DNP (2,4 dinitrophenol), a banned substance for weight loss. However, this toxic chemical may still appear in some low-quality medications. Overdosing on DNP can cause itching and skin inflammation due to allergic reactions.
• Vision Impairment: As previously mentioned, the presence of DNP in weight loss pills can lead to cataracts and other vision-related issues. DNP alters blood cell production, resulting in decreased vision and difficulty distinguishing between light and dark.

Some Tips for Safe Use of Weight Loss Pills:

• Choose the Right Weight Loss Pills: If dietary energy reduction does not lead to weight loss, a doctor may prescribe weight loss pills for individuals with a BMI over 30 or a BMI over 27 with related health conditions.
• Longer Use Equals More Risks: The longer the use of weight loss pills, the greater the health risks. If an individual loses at least 5% of their body weight within 3 to 6 months, the doctor may change the treatment approach or prescribe a different medication.
• Combine with Healthy Eating and Exercise: For effective weight loss, incorporate regular exercise and a balanced, low-calorie, nutrient-rich diet. Using weight loss pills as prescribed by a doctor can enhance short-term weight loss results.

In conclusion, a rapid heartbeat when taking weight loss pills is due to the medication's mechanism that increases metabolism and raises heart rate. Therefore, weight loss medications should only be used under a doctor's prescription to avoid potentially dangerous side effects.

Weight loss takes time, and results can vary from person to person. Set realistic goals and be patient throughout the process. Rapid weight loss is not always sustainable or healthy. Aim for gradual and stable progress. Remember that weight loss pills should never be considered a standalone solution; they should be part of a comprehensive approach that includes a healthy lifestyle, dietary adjustments, regular exercise, and ongoing professional guidance.

References: verywellhealth.com, southdenver.com, drugs.com