Five Things You Should Know About Phentermine

Suppressing the appetite has been used as a weight control method for decades, and diet pill manufacturers continue to create powerful formulas year after year. Phentermine first became available in the 1950s after the FDA deemed it ‘safe'. In 1998, the drug was removed from the market and was most recently made available as Fen-Phen. Phentermine works with neurotransmitters in the brain to reduce the appetite, but does have many side effects that most people are not aware of. Here are just five things you should know about Phentermine:

1. Phentermine can cause nervousness and irritability. This is a common side effect of many weight loss drugs, and can become severe with long-term use. Excessive nervousness and irritability can make it difficult for dieters to concentrate and focus on a task at hand. Long-term use can lead to impairment in day-to-day activities.

2. Phentermine overdose can occur without the dieter realizing it. Overdose symptoms include fever, lightheadedness, overactive reflexes, panic, and even hostility. The standard dose of Phentermine should be taken either before breakfast, or 1-2 hours after breakfast so that it does not affect sleep patterns.

3. Phentermine is chemically similar to amphetamines. It has a direct impact on the central nervous system, and can increase blood pressure and heart rate severely. Since it is so powerful, many doctors prescribe it as a short-term solution for obesity. It does decrease the appetite significantly but this can be dangerous for anyone who is not overweight in the first place.

4. Phentermine cannot be taken with monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as Paxil or Zoloft, and anyone taking diabetes medication will need to make adjustments in treatment when they start to take Phentermine.

5. Phentermine can change brain chemistry and mood. Phentermine does increase a sense of well-being and can drastically enhance the mood. However, this may be one of the causes of dependency on the drug and many people may experience significant withdrawal symptoms after reducing their dosage. Making sure the dieter is following a healthy lifestyle and eating plan is essential during the administration of phentermine, and and gradual lifestyle changes after limiting the drug use may be necessary.

Other warnings: Phentermine should not be taken by women who are pregnant or nursing and the drug can have a significant impact on other medications and drugs. Anyone with a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol should refrain from taking any type of prescription or over the counter weight loss drugs. Brand names of phentermine include: Adipex-P®, Anoxine-AM®, Fastin®, Ionamin®, Obephen®, Obermine®, Obestin-30® and Phentrol®.

Bottom Line: Phentermine is a very powerful drug that is available by prescription only. Thousands of desperate dieters turn online to find this drug, but these cheap versions may be dangerous and not received official approval by the FDA. Dependency and dozens of negative side effects are potential hazards of both short- and long-term drug use.

Instead of turning to artificial means of losing weight, most people can enjoy significant benefits from healthy lifestyle changes instead. A ‘quick fix' solution can quickly lead to disaster. Eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight are possible with a shift in lifestyle and habits.