In the neverending search for a miracle welght-loss cure, Americans are trying an array of prescription drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat a variety of illnesses. None of them have been approved as diet drugs -- but for many, weight loss is a side effect, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

The list includes drugs meant to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (Adderall and Ritalin), depression (Wellbutrin), epilepsy (Topamax and Zonegran), diabetes (Glucophage and Byetta), sleep disorders (Provigil), smoking (Zyban) and even opiate overdoses (Narcan). Often these drugs are used alone, but sometimes they're taken in combination with each other or with popular weight-loss medications, such as phentermine.

"People are looking for a quick fix," says Christine Gerbstadt, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, tells the Journal. "Taking a pill is so much easier than going to the gym or cutting back on portions."

Unfortunately, some people have had serious side effects such as baldness and memory loss.

Would you be willing to take these kinds of drugs to lose weight? Check out the full article and let me know what you think.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com