Jeffrey Salazar
Diet pills and weight-loss drugs are becoming increasingly common, with over a billion people affected by obesity worldwide. However, these pills can have adverse effects on heart health, including an increased heart rate. Some common weight-loss drugs, such as Wegovy, Saxenda, and Contrave, have been linked to an increased heart rate and blood pressure. Other drugs, such as phentermine, can cause heart palpitations and abnormally fast heart rates, especially in those with a history of cardiovascular disease. Fad diets can also trigger heart palpitations due to mineral deficiencies and wild fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is important to be cautious when taking diet pills and to consult a doctor if any heart-related symptoms occur.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet pills that increase heart rate | Phentermine, Topiramate, Diethylpropion, Wegovy, Saxenda, Ponderax, Adifax |
| Mechanism of action | Increasing norepinephrine (adrenaline) levels in the body |
| Side effects | Heart palpitations, abnormally fast heart rate, higher risk of depression and anxiety |
| Risk factors | Family history of heart conditions, diet, exercise habits, mineral deficiencies |
| Treatment | Lifestyle changes, medication, nonsurgical procedures, heart surgery |
| Prevention | Discontinuing fad diets, drinking salted water to restore hydration and electrolyte levels |
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What You'll Learn
Phentermine and topiramate combinations
Phentermine and topiramate are a combination medicine used together with diet and exercise to treat obesity in people 12 years and older. Phentermine is a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that was first approved in 1959 by the United States FDA for the treatment of obesity in adults. Topiramate, on the other hand, was discovered in 1979 and released for commercial use in 1996. It is approved for treating epilepsy and preventing migraines.
The combination of phentermine and topiramate can increase your resting heart rate. Small, usually transient increases in heart rate have been observed in some patients. However, reductions in blood pressure and rate pressure product were also observed, suggesting that when used in conjunction with lifestyle modifications, the combination may be safe and effective for managing obesity.
The phentermine component can produce adrenergic symptoms, such as dry mouth. The topiramate extended-release component can induce paraesthesia and taste change, likely through carbonic anhydrase inhibition. Topiramate is also associated with an increased risk of nephrolithiasis (kidney stone formation) and should not be used by pregnant women due to teratogenic risks.
Phentermine and topiramate can also cause dangerous interactions with other drugs, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). When combined with phentermine and topiramate, SSRIs can cause serotonin syndrome, leading to high body temperature, agitation, sweating, tremors, dilated pupils, hyperreflexia, and diarrhea. In severe cases, serotonin syndrome could be life-threatening, especially if seizures, high fever, irregular heartbeat, or unconsciousness occur.
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Diethylpropion and its effects
Diethylpropion is a medication used to help with weight loss. It is typically used when diet and exercise interventions have been tried without success. It is used in people who are significantly overweight (obese) and have been unable to lose weight through diet and exercise alone.
Diethylpropion is a stimulant medication that decreases appetite. It is FDA-approved for short-term use (less than 12 weeks) and has been associated with decreases in systolic blood pressure and heart rate, as well as small increases in diastolic blood pressure. It has not been linked to valvular heart disease.
The medication is typically taken orally, three times a day, one hour before meals, with an additional dose in the mid-evening if desired to overcome night hunger. An extended-release tablet is also available, which is taken once a day in the mid-morning. It is important to note that diethylpropion tablets should not be crushed, chewed, or broken.
Diethylpropion may cause serious side effects, including allergic reactions, chest pain, and shortness of breath. It may also cause dizziness, especially when standing or sitting up quickly. Alcohol may increase the risk of dizziness. In the case of an overdose, symptoms may include restlessness, tremors, rapid breathing, confusion, hallucinations, and aggression.
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Fad diets and heart palpitations
Fad diets can often trigger heart palpitations. While there are many other potential causes of the condition, you may want to discontinue your fad diet to see if your palpitations go away. Limiting your caloric intake can lower your blood sugar levels, which can trigger heart palpitations. This is especially common in individuals with a history of anemia, heart disease, or hyperthyroidism. Diabetics are prone to wild fluctuations in blood sugar levels, increasing the likelihood of palpitations from a fad diet. Mineral deficiencies are also common in diets that severely restrict carbohydrate intake. Eliminating carbs will decrease your insulin production, making it challenging for your body to regulate sodium, magnesium, and potassium levels.
Some diets may also result in rapid changes in vitamin levels such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and copper, which play an important role in heart contraction. Deficiencies in these vitamins may increase the risk of irregular heartbeat and cardiac arrest. Fad diets that promote excessive fat intake can also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Excess fat can build up in blood vessels and lead to atherosclerosis and stroke. Minimal carbohydrate intake can impair blood flow through coronary arteries, ultimately damaging the heart muscle.
Some weight loss drugs can also increase heart rate. Phentermine, for example, is an appetite suppressant sometimes used for weight loss, but it can cause heart palpitations, an abnormally fast heart rate, and other heart complications. Diethylpropion is another stimulant medication that has been associated with decreases in systolic blood pressure and heart rate. However, it has not been linked to valvular heart disease.
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Contrave's impact on heart rate
Contrave is a prescription drug used for weight loss and weight management in certain adults. It is a combination of two medicines, naltrexone and bupropion, that work in the brain to decrease appetite. The drug is usually taken long-term and is meant to be taken alongside a low-calorie diet and exercise.
Contrave has been associated with several side effects, including nausea, constipation, and headaches. Some people may also experience changes in mood or behaviour, which are more likely to occur in those with an underlying mental health condition.
In terms of its impact on heart rate, Contrave may cause an increase in some patients. At weeks 4 and 8, the mean heart rate was 2.1 beats per minute higher in drug-treated patients compared to those on a placebo. By week 52, this difference decreased to 1.7 beats per minute.
Contrave may also increase the risk of serious heart-related complications such as stroke and heart attack, especially in those with a history of heart problems. Therefore, it is important to consult a healthcare provider before taking Contrave to determine if it is a suitable treatment option.
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Lorcaserin's clinical trial results
Lorcaserin is a selective agonist of the serotonin 2C receptor, which regulates appetite through the hypothalamic activation of the anorexigenic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) pathway. It has been evaluated in several clinical trials for its effectiveness in weight loss and cardiovascular safety in obese and overweight patients.
The BLOSSOM trial was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-arm trial conducted at 97 U.S. research centers. The trial included 4008 patients aged 18-65 years, with a body mass index between 30 and 45 kg/m2 or between 27 and 29.9 kg/m2 with an obesity-related comorbid condition. The results showed that significantly more patients treated with lorcaserin 10 mg twice daily and once daily lost at least 5% of their baseline body weight compared to the placebo group. The most common adverse events reported were headache, nausea, and dizziness.
Another large, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the CAMELLIA-TIMI 61, evaluated the cardiovascular safety and efficacy of lorcaserin in high-risk patients with overweight or obesity and atherosclerotic disease or multiple CV risk factors. During three years of follow-up, lorcaserin was associated with a slightly lower hazard ratio of cardiovascular outcomes and non-significant improvements in non-fatal myocardial infarction and stroke. However, there was also a non-significant increase in cardiovascular death. The most common adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation were dizziness, fatigue, headache, diarrhea, and nausea.
It is important to note that the effect of lorcaserin in geriatric populations is unknown, as most patients in the published clinical trials were 65 years of age or younger. Lorcaserin is also contraindicated in pregnant women and is not recommended for pediatric patients under 18 years of age. Additionally, lorcaserin has been shown to increase prolactin levels, and caution should be exercised when operating hazardous machinery due to potential cognitive impairment.
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Frequently asked questions
Diet pills can contain medications that have side effects that involve the heart and cardiovascular system. These medications can increase the release of catecholamines dopamine and norepinephrine, which are types of adrenaline.
An increased heart rate can lead to heart palpitations, which in some cases can be a sign of a more serious heart condition.
Some signs of a more serious heart condition include heart murmur, valve damage, and mitral or aortic incompetence. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to consult a doctor.
It is important to consult a doctor before taking any diet pills, especially if you have a history of heart conditions. Making sustainable adjustments to your diet and lifestyle, such as reducing stress and alcohol consumption, can also help reduce the risk of an increased heart rate.
