Hardcore Appetite Suppressants

When it comes to losing fat, one of the most powerful tools one can use is an appetite suppressant, especially if one is always struggling not to eat during a cut.

There are dozens of appetite suppressants that one can get over the counter in any pharmacy or even through amazon. Supplements containing saffron extract, apple cider vinegar, garcinia cambogia, among other ingredients, are very common, legal and somewhat effective for most people. Even caffeine is an appetite suppressant and mild fat-burner.

However, those supplements are rarely what high level professional bodybuilders use for contest prep. They use powerful, pharma-grade appetite suppressants that can almost make you forget you need to eat to survive. In this post, we will be taking a look at some of these compounds and discuss their pros and cons.

SIBUTRAMINE

Sibutramine, also known as Meridia, is an appetite suppressant medication that was widely used and prescribed to obese people until the early 2010s.

It can no longer be prescribed in most of the western world because it was linked to cardiovascular disease, but I personally think this risk was exacerbated by the fact that most of its uers were morbidly obese people with compromised cardiovascular systems.

Sibutramine is an SNRI (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor), a type of drug similar to SSRIs (anti-depressants) which acts by reducing the reabsorption of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.

This results in a drastic increase in satiety, which reduces the user’s calorie intake and facilitates weight loss.

Unfortunately, it is known to increase blood pressure and increased heart rate, so it should not be stacked with stimulants like Clenbuterol and Ephedrine.

I personally think the safest way to use Sibutramine is to take 10mg a day in the morning upon waking up. The half-life of sibutramine itself is 1 hour, but its effects last for much longer because its two main metabolites have half-lives of 14 to 16 hours, meaning that Sibutramine can be taken once a day.

I don’t think it should be used for more than 4 weeks at a time, and I believe that Sibutramine should only be considered by advanced bodybuilders who are undergoing extreme cutting cycles.

PHENTERMINE

Phentermine, also known as Duromine and Sentis, is an appetite suppressant medication that is prescribed to obese people.

Phentermine is structurally similar to amphetamine, so it acts as a Central Nervous System stimulant, making it very different from Sibutramine but similar to compounds like Synephrine, Yohimbine and Ephedrine (all of which are also effective appetite suppressants).

Unlike Sibutramine, Phentermine contributes to fat loss not only by suppressing hunger, but also by increasing body temperature and energy expenditure. It also differs from Sibutramine in that it has never been withdrawn from the market, even though its arguably harsher and more dangerous.

Its side-effects include high blood pressure, increased heart rate, increased body temperature and sweating, insomnia and other common symptoms of stimulant use. Despite being similar to amphetamine, Phentermine is not addictive (use by ex-addicts is not recommended though).

The main difference between Phentermine and other stimulant fat-burners is that it has a very long half-life of almost 24h, so it can be taken once a day in the morning, upon waking up. A good dose would be 20mg a day, and then increasing to 40 if well-tolerated.

According to studies, Phentermine is safe for up to 12 weeks at a time, but bodybuilders use higher doses so I would personally keep cycles short and around the 4 week mark.

SEMAGLUTIDE

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 Agonist / mimetic that decreases blood sugar levels by decreasing insulin secretion.

It belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists and is administered via subcutaneous injection.

Semaglutide has a significant impact on appetite by reducing feelings of hunger, reducing sugar cravings and causing a feeling satiety. As a result, semaglutide can aid in weight loss by helping individuals consume fewer calories and make smarter food choices.

In terms of side-effects, Semaglutide appears to be very safe, but some preclinical studies suggest that abusing it may cause nausea and gastrointestinal issues. Some data also seems to suggest that it could exacerbate (but not necessarily cause) certain types of cancer.

The recommended dose is 0.25 to 0.5mg injected subcutaneously once a week.

ORLISTAT

Orlistat is not exactly an appetite suppressant, but it tends to be lumped into this category, so its worth mentioning in this article.

In a nutshell, Orlistat works by inhibiting the absorption of dietary fats, meaning that it reduces calorie intake and allows one to eat like a pig and not suffer the consequences.

An interesting fact about Orlistat is that it can be acquired over the counter in the USA, most European countries and Australia.

Something that quite literally allows one to eat a bunch of fatty food and not absorb any of that fat sounds miraculous, and even though it does its job, it has some nasty side-effects.

Firstly, its extremely common for one to experience diarrhea, steatorrhea (fatty diarrhea), flatulence and fecal incontinence.

Secondly, fats are necessary for the body to function properly and produce hormones, among many other functions. Drastically decreasing fat intake with Orlistat is extremely unhealthy.

Finally, there is some evidence to suggest that Orlistat may increase chances of kidney injury.

I advise against using this drug, but if you are stupid enough to take it, never use more than 60mg 3x  a day, and never use it for more than 4 weeks at a time.

In conclusion, these are powerful drugs that can help even the hungriest bodybuilder stay focused and disciplined during the last few weeks of a contest prep. Unfortunately, they come with some side-effects, so you have to be very careful if you decide to use them.