Long-term phentermine use isn't generally recommended due to risks like dependency, increased blood pressure, heart issues (like heart failure or valvular problems), and potential psychiatric effects, though some newer research suggests moderate long-term use might be safe for some low-risk individuals, it carries risks of addiction, hypertension, sleep problems, and cardiovascular complications, requiring careful monitoring by a doctor. Doctors typically limit use (often to under 12 weeks) due to stimulant effects and potential for serious side effects like pulmonary hypertension or dependence.
Continuing treatment beyond 12 months up to 24 months often leads to notable weight regain. Long-term phentermine treatment may pose risks, including high blood pressure, heart disease, irregular heartbeat, seizures, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, and other side effects.
Rare but serious phentermine side effects include:
Phentermine and topiramate combination is used together with a reduced-calorie diet and proper exercise to help you lose weight. It is also used in overweight people who may also have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease.
The combined drug is approved for long-term use. Phentermine is approved for use for up to 12 weeks.
Some experience increased appetite and weight gain because the drug no longer provides appetite suppression. However, adopting a reduced-calorie diet, focusing on appetite control, and incorporating physical activity can help manage weight loss goals without the need for phentermine.
Does phentermine interact with foods or drinks? There are no known interactions between phentermine and foods or drinks. Drinking alcohol while taking phentermine may increase your risk for certain side effects, like dizziness. It is best to limit the amount of alcohol you drink while taking phentermine.
If you have well-controlled high blood pressure, Ozempic may be the safer choice as it doesn't raise blood pressure and might even help lower it slightly. Phentermine can raise blood pressure and heart rate in some people and is contraindicated if you have uncontrolled hypertension.
While phentermine does not directly burn fat, it can indirectly support fat loss. By reducing appetite and calorie intake, phentermine can lead to the utilization of stored fat for energy. Some evidence suggests it might modestly impact metabolic rate as well.
If you feel like phentermine is not working for you, talk to your healthcare provider. They may change your dose or dosing schedule or switch you over to another weight-loss drug.
Tolerance may develop to the weight-loss effects of phentermine, rendering it less effective. The dosage of phentermine should not be increased in this situation, rather the drug may need to be discontinued under medical advice.
If during your Phentermine treatment, you notice any of the following signs, call our clinicians right away.
A link may exist between phentermine and heart failure. There are rare reports of valvular heart disease in people who have taken phentermine, and it may also cause pulmonary hypertension. Valvular heart disease involves damage to one or more of the valves in the heart.
Appetite suppression: You'll likely feel less hungry throughout the day, making it easier to reduce portion sizes and avoid overeating. Increased energy levels: Phentermine has stimulating effects, which can help you feel more energetic, making it easier to stay active and exercise regularly.
After you take the new dose for 12 weeks, your doctor will check to see how much weight you have lost. If you have not lost a certain amount of weight, it is not likely that you will benefit from taking phentermine and topiramate, so your doctor will probably tell you to stop taking the medication.
Like many other sympathomimetics, phentermine is known to induce psychotic symptoms. Thus, phentermine associated psychotic symptoms have been reported repeatedly since 1960s. 10) Once the medications are stopped, psychotic symptoms generally improve in patients who had no prior history of psychotic disorder.
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Phentermine works by activating your sympathetic nervous system, also known as your fight-or-flight response. This helps reduce your appetite, so you eat fewer calories. Over time, eating less can create an energy deficit — meaning you're burning more calories than you're eating — which can lead to weight loss.
Kelly Clarkson uses a prescription weight-loss medication, but specified it's not Ozempic, though she hasn't revealed the exact drug; it helps her body break down sugar, a necessity due to pre-diabetes, alongside healthy habits like a high-protein diet, increased walking, and a better lifestyle after moving to New York. Her doctor encouraged medication due to concerning blood work, leading her to start after a health scare prompted change, though she initially hesitated due to thyroid issues.
The new FDA-approved weight loss drug Zepbound (tirzepatide) may be the strongest weight loss drug available. Zepbound is a once-weekly injectable medicine. Qsymia may be a stronger weight loss pill than phentermine since Qsymia contains both phentermine & topiramate, which both cause decreased appetite.
Qsymia is the strongest weight loss pill, but it's not the only one on the market that packs a punch. Some of the strongest weight loss pills available today include: Phentermine/topiramate (brand name Qsymia) Naltrexone/bupropion (brand name Contrave)
Your body temperature could increase to dangerous levels, which may lead to heat stroke. You should drink plenty of fluids while taking this medication.
Taking an appetite suppressant like phentermine may not only cause many physical adverse effects but it can also lead to disordered eating behaviors like caloric restriction and skipping meals and even clinical eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN).
You're not in a calorie deficit
Phentermine reduces your appetite, but it doesn't automatically ensure you're eating fewer calories than your body burns. If you're still consuming too many calories, especially from high-sugar or processed foods, you may not lose weight, even with the medication.