Adipex is the brand name for the prescription appetite suppressant phentermine, according to PubMed Health. The only Food and Drug Administration-approved fat-burning or -blocking drug is orlistat, which is marketed as prescription Xenical or over-the-counter Alli. You can safely take both drugs at the same time, but Adipex is not intended for long-term use due to its habit-forming potential.
Adipex Basics
Adipex, or phentermine, has been prescribed by doctors since 1959 and helps decrease your appetite, notes the Mayo Clinic. But if you are pregnant, nursing, have high blood pressure or a history of substance abuse, you should not take any type of phentermine. Also, doctors usually prescribe Adipex for periods not exceeding 12 weeks due to its habit-forming potential.
Orlistat Basics
Orlistat works on your digestive system rather than on your brain chemistry, hence there are no reported drug interactions between orlistat and Adipex found in the University of Maryland Medical Center online drug checker. When you take orlistat in any form, it releases a lipase inhibitor that blocks the fat from your food from being digested in your body. You pass the undigested fat through your bowel movements. Unlike other diet drugs on the market, orlistat is FDA-approved for long-term use.
Adipex Side Effects
Adipex may cause a number of side effects, some of which are potentially life-threatening, warns PubMed Health. If you experience itching, difficulty breathing, chest pain, increased blood pressure or hallucinations after taking phentermine, you need immediate medical attention. Also, do not take the banned combination of phentermine and fenfluramine known as fen-phen as fenfluramine caused an unacceptably high incidence of fatal heart and lung problems in some dieters. You may experience mild side effects such as dry mouth, constipation and vomiting.
Orlistat Side Effects
In 2009, FDA officials began investigating claims that orlistat caused a few dieters severe liver injuries. If you experience jaundice, dark-colored urine or light-colored stools after taking the drug, call a doctor immediately. You may experience gastrointestinal problems with orlistat, especially if you take it with meals that consist of 15 g or more of fat. Loose stools, fatty stools, severe abdominal pain, uncontrollable bowel movements and leaky gas cause some dieters to stop taking orlistat. If you have liver problems, you should not take any type of fat-burning drug.
References
- Weight-Control Information Network; Prescription Medications for the Treatment of Obesity; December 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Drug Checker
- PubMed Health: Orlistat; August 2010
- Mayo Clinic; Phentermine - Can Prescription Medication Help Weight Loss?; Donald Hensrud, MD; October 2009
- PubMed Health: Phentermine; January 2011
- Mayo Clinic; Alli Weight-Loss Pill: Does it Work?; June 2010
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