You may be taking cheap over-the-counter diet pills or prescription diet drugs from your doctor along with your Nutrasystem, Jenny Craig, or Medifast diet. No one says that you cannot take diet pills when you are on the program.

In either case, though, the pills inevitably come with warnings. They might raise the blood pressure or even cause heart attacks. You might be advised to watch for anxiety and nervousness. The pills' literature might warn of serious possible organ damage.

Other side effects of some of the newer drugs have more to do with the digestive tract. Because many of these drugs work by preventing absorption of fats, they send those same fats skimming through the digestive system at a fast rate. You can experience diarrhea, flatulence, or even incontinence.

Nutrasystem is one diet that encourages the use of one particular over-the-counter diet pill, Alli. They do not say that you need to take it, but they offer counseling for anyone who is thinking of or is now taking it.

Jenny Craig does not condone the use of diet pills as a way to help with weight loss, and they do not include appetite suppressants in their pre-packaged meals, either. For that matter, Nutrasystem meals do not have appetite suppressants or stimulants in them either.

On the other hand, Medifast has publicized its value in a program that includes diet drugs. It goes on to state that it does not push the use of diet pills. However, the company understands that diet drugs do exist and that people use them. They explain that people do better with diet pills when they are on the Medifast diet.

There are a few good reasons why you do not need diet pills when you follow a pre-packaged diet. First of all, the meals of the diet are spaced out through the day to keep the metabolism going strong and to promote weight loss. Along with these benefits, the meal spacing means that you will be able to eat at several times during the day to maintain a feeling of satisfaction.

One type of pills you will probably need along with the Nutrasystem, Jenny Craig, or Medifast diet program is vitamin and mineral supplements. Some diets make vitamins and mineral supplements available and recommend their use when appropriate. For people who cannot tolerate milk, for example, the programs work best if the person takes a calcium supplement.

Diet pills per se are not necessary for any good diet, whether it is Nutrasystem, Jenny Craig, or Medifast. However, some diet companies support some diet pills. You have to decide for yourself whether it is worth the aggravation of dealing with any side effects you might experience.