Appetite suppressants aim to keep you full for a longer amount of time to reduce over-eating and aid in weight-loss. They can also be taken to reduce anxiety, as this is a common cause of an increased appetite.
Appetite suppressants can be natural, like green tea, glucomannan and Griffonia simplicifolia. You can also suppress your appetite with medications like sibutramine and liraglutide.
It is important to remember that using supplements and medications to suppress appetite should be monitored by a doctor. Appetite suppressants may be contraindicated in some situations and can lead to side effects.
Natural appetite suppressants
Some natural options that can reduce appetite are:
1. Green tea
Green tea can help to reduce appetite as it is rich in epigallochatechin gallate. This is a bioactive compound that appears to reduce ghrelin levels in the body, the hormone that is responsible for hunger.
How to take: Green tea can be taken in capsule form, and is normally recommended to be taken as one capsule, 2 to 3 times per day. It can also be taken in tea form, which you can drink one to four cups per day. Learn more about the health benefits of green tea and how to take it.
2. Griffonia Simplicifolia
Griffonia Simplicifolia is a plant that can help to suppress appetite as it is high in 5-HTP. This is an amino acid that converts to serotonin in the body, which can promote well being and reduce hunger that is triggered by anxiety.
How to take: This plant can be used to make tea or taken in capsule forms. The recommended dose is 50 to 100 mg taken before meals.
3. Glucomannan
Glucomannan can help to suppress appetite as it is a fiber that forms into a gel-like consistency in the stomach. This increased the time food takes to be digested, which can help to manage hunger between meals.
How to take: Glucomannan should be taken 15 to 60 minutes before meals, together with two cups of water. Glucomannan should not be used for more than four months.
4. Chromium picolinate
Because it contains the mineral chromium, this supplement can help to manage blood sugar levels. This factor can help to reduce appetite and reduce a compulsion to overeat.
How to take: Chromium picolinate should be taken before one of your main meals. The recommended dose is one capsule per day for up to six months.
5. Spirulina
Because it contains great amounts of fiber and protein, spirulina is a supplement that can help to improve metabolism and reduce appetite. Learn more about spirulina benefits and what it can be taken for.
How to take: This supplement can be found in powder or capsule form. Generally, the recommended dose is one to eight grams per day, depending on the treatment goal.
6. Agar
Agar is a micro-algae that is rich in fiber that can help to prolong digestion time when taken with water. This can help to suppress appetite and make you feel fuller.
How to take: Agar can be taken as a powder, with one tablespoon diluted in juice, oatmeal or a smoothie. It can also be taken as capsule form, and the recommended dose is one 0.5 to 1 g capsule, taken before lunch or dinner.
Medications that suppress appetite
Some pharmacy medications that can help to reduce appetite and should be taken as medically prescribed include:
1. Sibutramine
Sibutramine is a medication used to increase energy burning in the body and reduce appetite. It often lead to less over-eating and increase calorie expenditure. For these reasons, sibutramine is often prescribed for people with obesity and eating compulsions.
How to take: Sibutramine should be taken as prescribed by your doctor. The initial dose is usually one 10 mg capsule per day, however this can be increased to 15 mg per day as necessary.
2. Saxenda
Saxenda is the name brand for liraglutide, and acts on the areas of the brain that manage appetite. It works by reducing overeating, leading to less calorie ingestion. Saxenda is typically prescribed to people who are overweight or obese.
How to take: This medication should be taken as prescribed. The recommended dose is one subcutaneous injection per day in the abdomen, thigh or arm, injected at any time of the day. Dosing depends on the week of treatment.
3. Victoza
Victoza is another brand name for liraglutide, and its main indication is to manage diabetes. However, the medication can also help with weight loss, as it stimulates insulin production and keep glucose levels within normal levels, both which can contribute to appetite control.
How to take: The initial recommended dose for adults is one 0.6 mg injection per day on the first week, which is then increased as recommended by the doctor.
4. Amfepramone
Amfepramone is a medication that acts in the part of the brain that controls appetite. It is often recommended for patients who need to lose weight for medical reasons, and is prescribed on a short-term basis (about 12 weeks). It is available in an immediate-release and controlled-release form, with different indications for each.
How to take: The immediate-release form of amfepramone is typically prescribed as one 25 mg tablet taken three times per day, one hour before meals. The controlled-release form is prescribed as one 75 mg tablet, taken once per day.
5. Lorcaserin hydrochloride
Lorcaserin hydrochloride is a medication that increases serotonin levels in the brain, which is a hormone that is associated with well-being and good mood. This can help to reduce appetite and keep you full. It is often prescribed for patients who are obese or overweight and have have one weight-related health condition, like high blood pressure or diabetes.
How to take: The recommended dose of lorcaserin hydrochloride is one 10 mg tablet taken twice per day. Doctors will typically discontinue this medication if 5% of weight loss is not achieved within 12 weeks.
