Phentermine

Brand Names

Adipex-P, Fastin, Ionamin, Obephen

What is Phentermine

Phentermine is a stimulant that is similar to an amphetamine. It is an appetite suppressant that affects the central nervous system.

Phentermine can be used during the diet and exercise to treat obesity in people who has risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.

Side effects of Phentermine

Phentermine side effects include:

• Insomnia,
• Hyperactivity,
• Restlessness,
• Dizziness,
• Unusual happy feelings (euphoria),
• Unusual unpleasant feelings (dysphoria),
• Dry mouth (see Phentermine and Dry Mouth),
• Unpleasant taste Unpleasant taste,
• Diarrhea,
• Constipation,
• Sexual problems

Indication

Phentermine is approved for short-term use (a few weeks) along during an appropriate diet, exercise, and behavior modification to treat obesity t in adults. For this use, phentermine works mostly as an appetite suppressant, although it may also help to increase metabolism. After a few weeks, the appetite suppressant effect of phentermine usually wears off. When this happens, you should stop taking phentermine (it should not be increased or continued in any way).

Precautions

The common precautions are:

• If you have heart disease, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, glaucoma, or a history of drug abuse, inform your doctor before you start taking phentermine.
• If you are taking any prescription and nonprescription medications as guanethidine, insulin, and MAO inhibitors you should inform your doctor, even if you stopped taking them within the past two weeks.
• If you have diabetes, you may need a larger dose of insulin while taking phentermine. Consult your doctor if you have questions or problems.
• Women who are pregnant should tell their doctors before taking phentermine. If you become pregnant while taking it, contact your doctor promptly.

Dosage forms

The normal phentermine dosage for adults follows:

• Oral dosage for capsules: Most people take 15 mg - 37.5 mg once per day, before breakfast, or approximately 1-2 hours after breakfast.
• Oral dosage for tablets: Phentermine dosage is usually 15 mg - 37.5 mg once per day, before breakfast, or approximately 1-2 hours after breakfast. Also, instead of taking phentermine once a day, some physicians recommend that you take 15 mg - 37.5 mg in divided doses, 1/2 hour before meals.
• Oral resin dosage form (capsules): 15mg - 30 mg, once per day, before breakfast.
• Adults age 60 and over: Reduced phentermine dosages are frequently necessary for senior citizens. You should consult your physician prior to taking this medication.
• Infants and children: Phentermine is NOT recommended for children under the age of 16.