Weight Loss With Phentermine

Phentermine is a generic form of a drug also known by other brand names including lonamin, Fastin, and Adipex. Phentermine is prescribed as an appetite suppressant and was originally developed and marketed as a replacement for amphetamines. Phentermine, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, is the most widely prescribed and most frequently encountered diet pill on the illicit market.

History

• Phentermine is prescribed to obese patients and is one of the oldest FDA-approved drugs prescribed for weight loss. Phentermine.com claims that Phentermine is an appetite suppressant used for the short-term treatment of obesity. When used in conjunction with diet, exercise and behavior therapy, Phentermine may help you to lose weight while you are learning new ways to eat and to exercise.

Function

• Phentermine is available in strengths ranging from 15 mg capsules to 37.5 mg tablets. This drug, when prescribed by a physician, is used to treat obesity as an appetite suppressant. Typically, doctors instruct their patients to take one capsule or one tablet of this medication once per day. The time of day this medication is taken is very important, since taking it too close to bedtime can cause insomnia.

Misconceptions

• Although Phentermine has been reported by the FDA to be safe, consumers have heard through the media about incidents of death caused by Phen-Fen. While Phentermine alone, taken as directed, has not been linked to any health issues, the combination of Phentermine with other drugs can be a problem. Several years ago, a cocktail of Phentermine and Fenfluramine, also known as Phen-Fen, was prescribed to some patients, resulting in heart valve disorders and in devastating cases even death.

Benefits

• Taking Phentermine for weight loss proves to be very beneficial for most individuals. The American Vein and Aesthetics Institute reports that patients begin losing weight immediately and average a loss of eight to 12 pounds per month.

Identification

• Phentermine comes in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes, as listed on Drugs.com. You can find a 15 mg capsule colored in grey and yellow, all the way to a 37.5 mg tablet which is white with blue specks. There are differences in the strength of the medication, but the generic versus the brand-name pills are made up of the same ingredients.

Warning

• As with any medication, you should discuss with your physician any prescriptions you are already taking which may conflict with Phentermine. There are several precautions listed that some patients may experience while using this medication, including dry mouth, insomnia, dependence and high blood pressure. Phentermine may also show up as positive results on a drug screen test. Talk to your doctor about other side effects while taking Phentermine.