Is Phentermine A Good Diet Pill?

Phentermine is a prescription anti-obesity drug that's been in use since 1959, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, first approved it for use. Phentermine is a good diet pill insofar that it has ample scientific evidence to suggest that it's effective. However, phentermine isn't appropriate for everyone who wants to lose weight -- and it can have unpleasant side effects.

Phentermine Basics

Phentermine is the weight loss medication that doctors prescribe the most in the United States, according to the Weight-control Information Network, or WIN. Phentermine is sold under the trade name Adipex-P; however, according to an April 2011 "Bloomberg" report, Elite Pharmaceuticals Inc. has made phentermine available as a generic medication. Most clinical trials that studied the effects of phentermine were short in duration; because this medication may be habit-forming and does have the potential to be abused, people who take it generally do so for between 3 and 6 weeks; however, the duration of treatment depends on how well you respond to phentermine. The FDA has approved phentermine for use by adults for no longer than 12 weeks.

How It Works

Phentermine is an "anorectic" drug. It affects the chemicals in your brain that control your appetite, making you feel less hungry --- and less inclined to eat. However, while the prescribing information for phentermine does state that obese clinical trial participants who took this weight loss drug shed more pounds than those who took a placebo, the weight loss noted was only a fraction of a pound more, suggesting that other factors may influence the medication's success, such as diet. Phenetermine is designed to be used in concert with a reduced calorie diet and exercise. The manufacturer of the trade version of this drug includes a patient handbook with the medication that lays out daily diet plans of between 1,000 and 2,500 calories. The handbook also recommends 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity five times a week, such as walking, cycling, swimming and rowing. Mayo Clinic preventive medicine specialist Donald Hensrud states that taking phentermine can give you a jump start on weight loss; however, if you don't change your eating habits and increase your level of physical activity, you'll gain back all the weight you lost after you stop taking the drug.

Cautions

Phentermine can have unpleasant side effects. Some of these can include difficulty sleeping, dry mouth, dizziness, anxiety, constipation and an increased heart rate and blood pressure. Phentermine may not be safe for you to use if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, hyperthyroidism or glaucoma. Phentermine is chemically and pharmacologically related to amphetamines, so there is a potential for patients to abuse the drug, increasing their dosage without their doctor's knowledge or consent. Phentermine doesn't mix well with alcohol and other weight-loss drugs.

Other Phentermine Information

You need a prescription to obtain phentermine; buying this drug online isn't just illegal --- it could be potentially dangerous to your health if you have existing medical conditions or take certain medications. Phentermine and other drugs in this class are prescribed to patients with a body mass index, or BMI, of more than 30. It may also be prescribed to people with a BMI of 27 or more who also have other risk factors, such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hypertension. MayoClinic.com indicates that people who take prescription anti-obesity drugs such as phentermine generally lose 5 percent to 10 percent of their body weight in a year when this therapy is combined with exercise and a reduced-calorie diet.

Is Phentermine a Good Diet Pill?

Phentermine Basics

How It Works

Cautions

Other Phentermine Information

References

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