1. The Drug and the Diet
There is no actual diet with Phentermine. Phentermine became most notorious in combination with fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine. The name of the combination drug was Fen-Phen. While a 1992 study showed the drug was superior to diet and exercise, in 1997 the bubble burst when 24 Fen-Phen users developed cases of heart valve disease. The ingredients of Fen-Phen, fenfluramin and dexfenfluramine, are no longer on the market at the request of the FDA. Phentermine never received the same request by the Food and Drug Administration and still remains on the market.
2. Phentermine for the Truly Obese
The drug intended originally for obese people to get a jump start on dieting. The long-term effects don't show significant weight loss, though the short-term effects show much more loss of weight when on the drug rather than a placebo. The biggest effect was from the management of diet and additional exercise program. Use phentermine on a short-term basis. The drug tends to be slightly addictive so rapid removal results in withdrawal symptoms if you've taken it a long time.
3. Some Serious and Some Uncomfortable Side Effects
There are some serious side effects experienced by some phentermine users. Chest pain, fainting, shortness of breath or fast or uneven breathing, mental confusion, increased blood pressure, or swelling of the ankles or feet mean you need to see a doctor and cease the phentermine. These are potentially dangerous. Uncomfortable side effects like dry mouth, headache, tremors, nervousness, diarrhea, trouble sleeping and even itching may also accompany the use of the product. People with seizures, glaucoma, anxiety disorders or thyroid problems are not good candidates for phentermine.
4. Phentermine and Diet
Any low calorie diet combined with exercise is good if you use phentermine. The drug originally for the obese and used in combination with a healthy low calorie diet that contains all the necessary nutrition for the body, is only for the quick start beginning. Phentermine is a supplement that speeds weight loss and makes results easily seen in the first few weeks.
5. How To Take It
Phentermine is available in both tablets and extended-release forms. Take the extended-release forms once a day and the tablets three times a day prior to meals. Your doctor or pharmacist provides instructions for its use. The drug use is seldom longer than six weeks and usually is between three to six weeks. When you take it with meals, you'll experience fewer side effects. Never crush or chew the tablet if it is an extended release form.
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