Leena Watts
Phentermine is a drug used to suppress appetite and speed up weight loss in overweight people. It is often used in conjunction with diet and exercise to treat obesity, especially in people with risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. While phentermine is generally safe when taken as prescribed by a doctor, it can have adverse effects, including drowsiness, fatigue, and reduced energy levels. It is also a controlled substance due to its potential for misuse and dependence. It is important to consult a doctor before taking phentermine to ensure safe usage and avoid any potential negative consequences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How it works | Phentermine is an appetite suppressant that stimulates the central nervous system, increasing heart rate and blood pressure. |
| Usage | Phentermine is used to speed up weight loss in overweight people, especially those with risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. |
| Prescription | Phentermine is available only with a doctor's prescription. |
| Dosage | The dosage of phentermine varies for different patients. It is usually taken in the morning, before breakfast, and should be swallowed whole with or without water. |
| Side effects | Common side effects include fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, restlessness, drowsiness, fatigue, and reduced energy levels. Serious side effects may include heart valve problems, increased blood pressure in the lungs, hallucinations, and psychotic-like behaviors. |
| Precautions | Phentermine should not be taken with certain other medications, including MAO inhibitors and similar medicines such as benzphetamine. It should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and caution should be exercised in elderly patients due to potential age-related liver, kidney, or heart problems. |
| Addiction | Phentermine is a controlled substance and can be habit-forming. |
| Storage | Phentermine should be stored at room temperature, in a safe place out of the reach of children. |
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What You'll Learn
Phentermine side effects
Phentermine is a drug approved for weight loss as part of a regimen of exercise, calorie restriction, and behaviour modification. It is used for a limited period of time to speed up weight loss in overweight people who are exercising and eating a low-calorie diet. It is available only with a doctor's prescription. Phentermine is in a class of medications called anorectics and works by decreasing appetite. It stimulates the central nervous system, which increases heart rate and blood pressure.
Phentermine may cause several side effects, including:
- Dry mouth: Phentermine can decrease saliva production, leading to a dry mouth. This can be unpleasant and may also cause difficulty swallowing and tooth decay.
- Insomnia: Trouble sleeping is another common side effect. It is recommended that the last dose of the day is taken 4 to 6 hours before bedtime to avoid this.
- Tremors: Involuntary shaking can occur, which usually goes away quickly. However, it could be a sign of an excessive dose.
- Euphoria: Phentermine can cause a euphoric or "high" feeling, and users should avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until they know how it affects them.
- Mood changes: In rare cases, phentermine may cause severe mood changes, such as agitation or hallucinations.
- Drowsiness and fatigue: Phentermine can cause reduced energy levels and tiredness.
- Heart problems: In rare cases, phentermine may cause heart valve disease and high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension). People with heart problems or a history of substance misuse should not take phentermine.
It is important to note that phentermine may interact with other medications, including MAO inhibitors and similar diet medicines. It should not be taken during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, as it can harm the baby. Elderly patients may also need a different dosage due to potential age-related liver, kidney, or heart problems.
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Safety precautions
Phentermine is a drug approved for weight loss as part of a regimen of exercise, calorie restriction, and behaviour modification. It is safe to use when taken as prescribed by a doctor. Here are some safety precautions to be aware of when taking phentermine:
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Do not take phentermine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Using this medicine while pregnant can harm your unborn baby, and studies in women who are breastfeeding have demonstrated harmful effects on the infant.
Health conditions
You should not take phentermine if you have glaucoma, an overactive thyroid, severe heart problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure, advanced coronary artery disease, extreme agitation, a history of drug abuse, or a history of stroke. If you have diabetes, you may need to decrease your dose of insulin while taking phentermine.
Drug interactions
Phentermine should not be taken with certain other medicines, including monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, benzphetamine, diethylpropion, mazindol, phendimetrazine, Bontril, or Didrex. Many other drugs can interact with phentermine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Always tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking, and do not take phentermine with any other diet medications without your doctor's advice.
Dosage
Take phentermine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or take it for longer than recommended. Do not crush, break, or chew the tablets unless your doctor or pharmacist instructs you to do so. If you are taking the extended-release tablets, do not split, chew, or crush them. Take phentermine first thing in the morning, before breakfast, and ensure your hands are dry before touching the tablet. To avoid trouble sleeping, take the last dose of the day about 4 to 6 hours before bedtime, unless your doctor advises otherwise.
Alcohol
Ask your doctor about the safe use of alcohol while taking phentermine, as alcohol can make the side effects worse.
Allergies
If you are allergic to any of the ingredients in phentermine, do not take it. Your pharmacist can tell you all the ingredients in the specific phentermine products they stock.
Dependence
Phentermine can be habit-forming. If you think the medicine is not working, do not increase the dose—check with your doctor instead.
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Drug interactions
Phentermine interacts with many drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. It is important to consult a doctor or healthcare provider about any potential drug interactions before taking phentermine.
Phentermine should not be taken with other weight-loss medications, such as amphetamine, benzphetamine, dextroamphetamine, diethylpropion, phendimetrazine, and Bontril®. Combining phentermine with these drugs may increase side effects, leading to hypertensive crisis (a dangerous increase in blood pressure) or arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm).
Additionally, phentermine should not be used with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others. A dangerous drug interaction may occur if phentermine is taken within 14 days of starting or stopping an MAOI. This combination can cause a hypertensive crisis. MAOIs are typically used to treat depression or Parkinson's disease.
Phentermine may also interact with insulin and oral diabetes drugs, including nateglinide, pioglitazone, repaglinide, rosiglitazone, metformin, glimepiride, glipizide, sitagliptin, saxagliptin, linagliptin, exenatide, and liraglutide. Taking phentermine with these medications may cause a significant drop in blood sugar levels, requiring a lower dosage of diabetes drugs and close monitoring of blood sugar.
Furthermore, phentermine can interact with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including fluoxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, and nefazodone. Combining phentermine with SSRIs may increase side effects.
It is important to note that alcohol use may also increase the risk of certain side effects, such as dizziness, when taking phentermine. Therefore, it is recommended to limit alcohol consumption while on this medication.
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Dosage instructions
Phentermine is a prescription weight loss medication that should only be taken as instructed by a doctor. It is approved for use by people aged 16 and over who are obese or overweight with related health conditions. It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and people with certain health conditions should not take it.
Phentermine is typically taken as a single daily dose in the morning, before or 1-2 hours after breakfast. It can also be taken three times a day, 30 minutes before meals. The dosage is usually 18.75 to 37.5 milligrams (mg) once a day, but this may vary depending on the individual's needs and whether it is being used in combination with other medications, such as topiramate.
It is important to follow the directions on the prescription label carefully and to ask a doctor or pharmacist for clarification if anything is unclear. Phentermine should not be taken in larger amounts or for longer than prescribed. If a dose is missed, it should be taken as soon as possible, unless it is almost time for the next dose, in which case the missed dose should be skipped. It is important not to double doses.
Phentermine should be stored at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light, and out of the reach of children. It is also important to keep the medication in a safe place to protect it from theft, as it is a controlled substance.
It is crucial to consult a doctor before taking phentermine, as many drugs can interact with it, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Additionally, phentermine can affect alertness and coordination, so it is important to refrain from driving or engaging in activities that require alertness until you know how phentermine affects you.
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Who should avoid it
Phentermine is a drug approved for weight loss as part of a regimen of exercise, calorie restriction, and behaviour modification. It is meant to be used short-term to help with weight loss in people who are overweight or have obesity.
Pregnant or Breastfeeding Women
Phentermine may harm unborn babies. Studies in women who are breastfeeding have also demonstrated harmful infant effects. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, an alternative to this medication should be prescribed, or you should stop breastfeeding while using this medicine.
People with Glaucoma, Overactive Thyroid, Heart Problems, Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure, Advanced Coronary Artery Disease, or a History of Stroke
Phentermine stimulates the central nervous system, which increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Therefore, it should not be taken if you have glaucoma, an overactive thyroid, heart problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure, advanced coronary artery disease, or a history of stroke.
People with Extreme Agitation or a History of Drug Abuse
Phentermine can affect your alertness or coordination and can be habit-forming. It should not be taken if you are feeling agitated, restless, or have uncontrolled anger, or if you have a history of drug abuse.
People Taking Certain Other Medicines
Phentermine should not be taken with certain other medicines, including monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl), and tranylcypromine (Parnate). It should also not be taken with similar medicines such as benzphetamine, diethylpropion, mazindol, phendimetrazine, Bontril, or Didrex. Many other drugs can interact with phentermine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. It is important to consult your doctor about any medications you are currently taking before starting phentermine.
Children
Safety and efficacy of phentermine in children have not been established. It may slow the increase in height in children aged 12 years and older if used for a long period of time.
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Frequently asked questions
Phentermine is a prescription drug used to suppress appetite and speed up weight loss in overweight and obese people. It is usually taken orally in tablet form.
Phentermine should not be taken by those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or those with glaucoma, overactive thyroid, severe heart problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure, advanced coronary artery disease, extreme agitation, or a history of drug abuse. It should also not be taken with certain other medications, such as benzphetamine, diethylpropion, or MAO inhibitors.
Common side effects of phentermine include increased heart rate, high blood pressure, restlessness, drowsiness, fatigue, and reduced energy levels. Serious side effects may include heart valve problems and increased blood pressure in the lungs. Phentermine can also be habit-forming and may cause hallucinations or psychotic-like behaviors if misused.
