Phentermine Diet Plans

The medication phentermine, an appetite suppressant that affects the central nervous system, must be prescribed by your doctor before you add it to your diet plan. Although prescribed as an appetite suppressant, exactly how phentermine reacts with the human body to create this response is unknown. Before taking this diet drug, tell your doctor if you have any pre-existing health condition including high blood pressure, diabetes or a thyroid disorder.

Components

Expect your doctor to prescribe more than just a diet pill when you receive a prescription for phentermine. An effective phentermine diet plan consists of several integral components including a reduced personalized diet plan and an exercise regimen.

Efficacy

Taking phentermine as part of your diet plan offers the highest rate of efficacy during the first few weeks of treatment, according to information provided by Daily Med, a National Institutes of Health website. The efficacy of this diet drug decreases in subsequent weeks.

Duration

Under a doctor's supervision, use a phentermine diet plan for short-term weight loss. Anticipate following a dietary regimen that includes the weight loss drug phentermine for three to six weeks. MayoClinic.com cautions against using phentermine as part of a long-term diet plan due to the lack of clinical evidence. Additionally, long-term use of phentermine may be habit-forming.

Compare to Dietary Intervention Alone

Patients following a low-fat, calorie restricted, phentermine diet plan experienced greater weight loss than those on a low-carbohydrate diet without phentermine, according to information provided by Private Bariatric and Family Practice in Lawrence, Kansas and published in the fall 2004 issue of Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders. Participants in the phentermine diet group lost an average of 31 lbs. over 20 weeks; those on the low-carbohydrate diet lost an average of 21 lbs. over 15 weeks. However, the participants following the low-carbohydrate diet plan without phentermine had a greater increase in HDL--good cholesterol--and a greater reduction in triglycerides.

Side Effects

Taking phentermine as part of your diet plan for weight loss or any other health reason may result in side effects including death. Side effects from taking phentermine include blurred vision, constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, and nervousness and sleeplessness. To reduce the risk of side-effects, take phentermine with meals. Combining phentermine with other diet medications like fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine may cause pulmonary hypertension, a fatal lung disorder.