Warning that diet pills can lead to depression, suicide

18 декабря, 2002
12/18/2002 Overweight people have been warned that using diet pills containing amphetamine agents can cause depression and even lead to suicide. Bangkok Post via NewsEdge Corporation : 12/18/2002 Overweight people have been warned that using diet pills containing amphetamine agents can cause depression and even lead to suicide. Dr Apichai Mongkol, deputy director-general of the Mental Health Department, said shedding kilos by taking diet pills with methamphetamine substances for a long time would badly affect one's health. Side-effects of the pills included sleeping problems, loss of appetite and a lack of serotonin, which could lead to depression and even suicide, he added. There were no statistics on the number of people suffering mental illnesses from taking diet pills as people did not divulge this to psychiatrists, he said. About 1% of the Thai population of 62 million suffers from mental problems of some sort. Dr Apichai suggested overweight people set themselves clear goals to lose 2kg a year, and reward themselves occasionally by eating a favourite food, instead of using diet pills. Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan said the recent death of a diet-pill user in Ang Thong was a lesson for teenagers and women who resorted to medication to lose weight. The use of diet pills should be closely monitored by doctors or it could be harmful since such medicines affected the nervous system as well, she said. Mrs Sudarat called on those with weight problems to exercise for 30 minutes at least three times a week, and eat more fruit and vegetables instead of sweet and fatty food. Food and Drug Administration deputy secretary-general Dr Sathaporn Wongcharoen said diet pills were dangerous because they contained amfepramone, phentermine, mazindol and cathine which affected the central nervous system and could cause coronary diseases in the long run. Copyright 2002. All Rights Reserved. Financial Times Information Limited - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire <> << Copyright ©2002 Financial Times Limited, All Rights Reserved >>
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