Phenermine & Weight Loss

Phentermine is a drug that affects the nervous system by suppressing one's appetite, explains drugs.com. It is used along with a diet to help those who or obese or overweight and people who have serious conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. It is important to talk with your doctor before use to understand certain precautions, side effects and proper use of the drug.

• Phentermine and weight loss

Proper Use

• You cannot take phentermine alone. For the best results, it is important to diet and exercise while on this medication. Drugs.com explains that patients should take this drug as directed, and should only use it for a few weeks. Taking this drug for an extended period can cause serious side effects. Take phentermine with food and plenty of water, and do not crush, chew or break the pills, as too much medication can be placed into the body causing adverse effects, states.drugs.com. Also, do not stop taking this drug suddenly, as it may cause many withdrawal symptoms.

Precautions

• Though phentermine has been shown to work well, there are things that need to be avoided while using this drug. It is important not to use this medication with any other diet pills, as this can cause a fatal lung disorder called pulmonary hypertension, according to drugs.com. Stimulant drugs can affect your reaction time and thinking, thus avoid drinking alcohol while you are using phentermine, as it can further increase these effects. Rxlist.com also warns patients not to take too many pills after they become tolerant to the drug, which usually takes a couple of weeks. Increasing dosage can be fatal.

Side Effects

• Rxlist.com and drugs.com explain that patients should be aware of possible side effects associated with phentermine. These include shortness of breath, swelling, rapid weight gain, abnormal heart beat, sweating, lightheadedness, confusion, unusual thoughts and very high blood pressure characterized by extreme headache, chest pain, blurred vision and possible seizure, drugs.com states. Restlessness, dizziness, drowsiness, insomnia, mild headache, changes in libido and skin irritation are less serious side effects, rxlist.com reports.

Warnings

• Phentermine is a stimulant that can interact with certain underlying conditions that patients have. If you have heart problems, an overactive thyroid, glaucoma, a history of alcohol or drug abuse, anxiety, diabetes or any mental conditions, you may not be able to use this drug. This drug is effective when taken properly, thus be sure to share your medical history with your doctor to enable him to prescribe proper dosage. Children younger than 16 should not take this medication, drugs.com warns. It is not known if this drug will affect unborn children.

Considerations

• This drug should only be used in those who have tried exercise and diet, and have not been successful. Usually phentermine is taken along with a low-calorie diet, exercise and a behavioral change program, rxlist.com reports. To get the best results, take phentermine at the same time each day and do not miss doses. If you feel as though you have increased hunger or if the drug is not working, contact your doctor. Ultimately, it is up to you and your doctor to choose the best weight loss pill for you.