If you're struggling to lose weight, you might be wondering if phentermine can improve your weight loss. Phentermine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1959 to be used for short periods of time up to 12 weeks to treat obesity, according to "Handbook of Obesity Treatment." Consult your physician prior to taking phentermine or any other medication.
Weight Management Guidelines
Weight loss requires you to consume fewer calories than your body burns. This level of consumption creates a calorie deficit and forces your body to burn its own fat for fuel, resulting in weight loss. Maintaining your weight loss requires that you eat only the amount of food that your body requires. When you eat more than your body requires, your body saves the excess calories as fat to use later as fuel.
How Phentermine Works
Phentermine triggers the hypothalamus of the brain to send messages to the adrenal glands to norepinephrine. Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter that produces the fight-or-flight response. This response reduces your appetite and makes you feel full longer after a meal. As phentermine reduces your hunger, you start to eat less, thereby creating a calorie deficit and forcing your body to use its own fat for fuel, which results in weight loss.
Weight Loss with Phentermine
The amount of weight you lose while taking phentermine depends on a variety of factors, including your age, gender, health, level of exercise and diet. However, you should aim to lose 1 to 2 lb. per week, which is regarded as the ideal rate of weight loss for long-term success, according to "Handbook of Obesity Treatment." Although you won't feel very hungry while taking phentermine, it is essential that you eat a minimum of 1,200 calories per day, which is regarded as the minimum number of calories required to sustain basic metabolic function, according to "Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies."
Considerations
Phentermine for weight loss is controversial among those in the medical community. Common side effects of phentermine include insomnia, diarrhea, hypertension, nausea, tachycardia and headache. Because phentermine can be used for only 12 weeks at a time, many people are unable to make the necessary lifestyle changes to continue to lose weight after discontinuing the medication and often regain weight, according to "Handbook of Obesity Treatment." Ultimately, a balanced diet and exercise regimen are necessary for successful weight loss. Consult a dietitian if you are struggling with developing a healthy relationship with food.
References
- "Focus on Nursing Pharmacology"; Amy Morrison Karch; 2009
- "Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses"; Judi Deglin, et al.; 2010
- "Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies"; Frances Sizer; 2008
- "Handbook of Obesity Treatment"; Thomas A. Wadden PhD, et al.; 2004
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