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What Are the Dangers of a Diet Patch?

Diet patches are designed to administer various drugs and herbal supplements to suppress your appetite while increasing your metabolism. These effects, when paired with a healthy diet and exercise, generally result in weight loss. Many dieters find the patch more convenient than pills containing similar supplements because they administer a constant, even amount of medication. Because of this constant administering of drugs and supplements, a number of dangers and side effects to the diet patch should be taken into consideration before use.

  1. Side Effects

    • While all diet aids might present some side effects, the diet patch might present side effects that can lead to serious danger if they persist. Depending on the drug or herbal supplement the patch contains, side effects vary. Many diet patches cite nausea, irritability, restlessness, and skin irritation as general side effects. Other patches might cause low blood sugar, which can not only result in health problems but be counterproductive to weight loss, causing general fatigue, making it difficult for you to exercise. If side effects persist, most diet patches recommend ceasing use until you consult a doctor about how to treat them.

    Drug Interactions

    • Dieters taking prescription medication should be especially wary of using a diet patch without first consulting a physician. Depending on the herbal supplement or drug used in the patch, dangerous side effects could occur. For instance, patches that use guarana and 5-HTPs have been noted to interact with a variety of prescription medications and can result in side effects or a lesser effectiveness of the prescription medications. If you are taking any prescriptions, especially antipsychotics, antiarrhythmics or prescription antacids, consult your physician before you begin your diet regimen.

    Long-Term Effects

    • Abusing or misusing diet patches can result in long-term health problems. For instance, one diet patch's active ingredient is fucus vesiculosus, which increases energy by stimulating the thyroid with iodine. While iodine is natural and important to the body, large amounts of it can be harmful to natural body processes. Long-term thyroid problems associated with fucus vesiculosus include enlargement of the thyroid gland, hypothyroidism, and thyroid cancer. When used incorrectly or for a long period of time, especially in those with preexisting thyroid problems or those with diabetes or preexisting heart conditions, fucus vesiculous patches can cause more harm than help.

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