How Do Appetite Suppressants Work?

Paul Bolger, MD, has served as an emergency medicine physician at Trinity Medical Center in Illinois and Iowa since 2002, and is the department’s former medical director. In addition to his responsibilities as an attending physician, Dr. Paul Bolger owns Medical Aesthetics and Wellness Center in Davenport, Iowa.

At the Center, Dr. Bolger and his staff provide patients with various cosmetic and weight-loss services. Among the latter are customized weight loss plans, body sculpting, and appetite suppressant prescriptions.

Appetite suppressants are generally prescribed to individuals who are on, or preparing begin, a diet in order to lose weight. The pills are intended to simplify the dieting process; they decrease one’s cravings for food by affecting serotonin levels in the brain.

Serotonin naturally curbs hunger. Its production is triggered by the consumption of carbohydrates, but if an individual is seeking to lose weight, he or she may be avoiding these starchy foods. In such cases, an appetite suppressant offers an alternate way to shut off food cravings: it increases serotonin much like carbohydrates do. Once a serotonin balance is reached, hunger cravings diminish. 

While appetite suppressants can be beneficial to those trying to lose weight, they are generally a short-term solution. Since the pills may become less effective as time goes on, they are usually recommended as supplements to other weight loss practices, such as healthy eating and exercise.