Phentermine: Explained

Phentermine Explained:

Natural weight loss requires time, effort and abstinence from certain types and amounts of food. Busy people often find it hard to allot time to escape their sedentary lives. This is the reason why others result to taking prescription medicine for weight loss. Phentermine is one of them. What should you know about this drug before purchasing or taking it?

Phentermine is a prescription medication that resembles amphetamine. It is used to suppress a person’s appetite, decrease hunger and prolong the feeling of being full by altering the functions of the central nervous system thus it is included in the class of medicine called “anorectics”. The drug is used only when a person aims to lose a significant portion of his weight and not when he only wants to lessen a few pounds.

It works on the portion of the brain called hypothalamus, the one responsible for emotions and release of adrenal glands. It allows the brain region to release norepinephrine while signals hunger reduction. It also works outside the brain where it releases adrenaline that causes cells to break down stored fat.
Taking it is a way of kick-starting weight loss along with proper diet and regular exercise. However, a person will regain the lost weight once he stops taking this medication.

Phentermine is one of the drugs classified under potential abuse nonetheless the potential is low (Schedule IV). It is approved only for three months of continuous use. What are the side effects of this drug?

Aftereffects can range from petty to severe ones. These include dizziness, dry mouth, insomnia, nervousness, constipation or diarrhea, swelling in different portions of the face, shortness of breath, swelling feet, palpitation, change in behavior and mood, extreme emotions, severe headache, blurred vision, chest pain, seizures, increased or decreased sex drive or passing out. There are contraindications that you should consider to avoid fatal effects.

Phentermine is not a good choice for those who have one or more of the following conditions: heart disease, fluctuating blood pressure, glaucoma or other thyroid problems, age below 16 or above 65, pregnancy, breast feeding, history of lung or kidney disease, allergic reaction to diet pills and history of either alcohol, cocaine or drug abuse.

This drug is not for people who have taken Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) inhibitors for the past two weeks. Examples of MAO inhibitors are rasagiline, selegiline, linezolid, isocarboxazid and tranylcypromine. After refraining from taking these for 14 days, ask your doctor if you could already use the dietary drug.

Taking this with other medication intended for diet regulation could result to pulmonary hypertension, a fatal lung disease. Dexfenfluramine and Fenfluramine are among those dietary drugs.
You should ask your doctors advise on whether or not to use this drug if you are taking insulin and other prescriptive or herbal medication. How should this dietary medication be used and how much should you prepare?

It is an oral medication that comes in extended release capsules or tablets. It is to be taken once to thrice a day (depending on the prescription) half an hour before each meal. Other brands should be taken two hours after breakfast. Do not use this drug beyond 6 in the evening to avoid sleeping problems and circadian rhythm disruption.

Most users take it for 3 to six weeks depending on how responsive their bodies are. Remember not to decide on prolonging the use or increasing the dosage unless instructed by a physician.

Extended release tablets should not be cut, chewed or crushed. If you have difficulties in swallowing drugs in tablet form, ask your physician to prescribe those that can be crushed and sprinkled on food.

Taking this medication can make you drowsy at random occasions during the day. To ensure your own safety, avoid driving a car, working on scaffoldings, riding high altitude amusement rides and the like until you have used the drug for a considerable amount of time and monitored its effects on you. Also, avoid drinking alcoholic drinks even in small amounts because alcohol can worsen side effects.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember but if it is almost time for your next tablet, skip the one you missed and carry on with your regular schedule. Never attempt to double the dosage to make up for the one you missed.

This drug can be poisonous especially when ingested by children. Keep it in a safe and tightly closed container. Do not put it in the kitchen where it is too hot or in the bathroom where it is too moist.

In case of signs of overdosage, contact your local control center or emergency services.
Stopping the use of this drug is not that simple. You need to consult your doctor to avoid withdrawal symptoms. He may advise you to gradually decrease the dosage before the actual halt in usage. Your body may need some time to adjust especially when you have been taking the drug for quite some time. To help your body cope up, you may take other medications with less risk but same physical effects.

A person who takes this medication for a long time may result to being physically or mentally dependent on it. Some of the symptoms that can be noticed when someone is phentermine dependent are the need to increase dosage for the drug to take effect and a strong urge to continue taking it even if it is time to stop. What can be the effects of withdrawing from the use of this drug?

Side effects include massive personality change, severe insomnia and nightmares, trembling, abdominal pains, irritability, uneasiness, stomach cramps, depression, nausea and vomiting. If any of these happen to you, contact your physician immediately.

Anything that you intake will have an effect on your body therefore, you have to be careful in choosing the dietary pills and supplements that you use. Losing weight will give you more chances to a healthy body but remember that phentermine is a prescriptive drug. Buying it from people or sites without advise from physicians may lead to serious repercussions.