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What is in Phentermine?

Phentermine is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved prescription medication for weight loss. It is usually prescribed only in cases of serious obesity, when diet and exercise have failed. According to Phentermine.com, phentermine can be a tool to help someone lose weight if combined with a sensible diet and regular exercise.
Within each capsule or tablet of phentermine, the ingredients range from active to inactive, from fillers to color dyes. It's important to know what's in phentermine before considering it as your next option for weight loss.

  1. Features

    • Phentermine HCl---which has the full chemical name, α,α-dimethylphenethylamine hydrochloride---is the active ingredient in a phentermine pill. It is a colorless, odorless powder that is water soluble. As the active ingredient, phentermine HCl is responsible for the drug's effects in managing obesity. The U.S. National Institutes of Health classifies phentermine HCl as a sympathomimetic amine, or anorectic, which is of drug a type similar to amphetamines in many ways, particularly in its effects.

    Effects

    • The active ingredient, phentermine HCl, acts as a central nervous system stimulant, and it also elevates blood pressure. It causes appetite suppression, which is the drug's main action against obesity. The NIH states that other effects may also be involved in phentermine HCl's weight loss properties, such as changes in the body's metabolism. Regardless, the effects are pronounced and have been widely tested against placebos in government studies available through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service.

    Identification

    • There are many different types of drugs containing phentermine HCl, and they vary in dosages. You can identify how much phentermine is in a particular pill by the information provided on your prescription bottle or information sheet. Some capsules contain 15 mg (milligrams), while others contain 30 or 37.5mg. The amount of phentermine HCl in a particular pill is carefully decided by the prescribing physician according to each patient's weight loss program.

    Types

    • There are other chemicals in a given phentermine pill that serve as inactive ingredients. For instance, dyes such as D&C Yellow #10 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Blue #1 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Red #3 and FD&C Red #40 Aluminum Lake are included to give the pills their color, which is important for identification purposes. Other ingredients such as gelatin, titanium dioxide, talc and corn starch are used as fillers to aide in absorption, preserve the pill and keep the capsule or tablet structurally sound.
      Without inactive ingredients like those listed above, one would simply have a tiny amount of pure phentermine HCl powder, which would be quite difficult to identify and ingest, much less see.

    Considerations

    • The active ingredient in phentermine is very effective for weight loss when prescribed by a physician, but there are some risks to consider. The NIH recommends caution for anyone taking phentermine who has a history of high blood pressure or heart problems. Also, pregnant or nursing mothers should consult with a doctor before taking phentermine, since it is not known whether phentermine can cause harm to a fetus or baby.
      Phentermine overdose can be fatal. If overdose of phentermine is suspected, contact emergency services immediately.

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