Generically identifiable as Phentermine HCL, phentermine is an appetite suppressant classed as a sympathomimetic amine. The drug achieves this by directly affecting the central nervous system, although it isn’t clear exactly how it helps people lose weight. Other than curbing your appetite, some physicians believe that phentermine works by increasing the amount of energy required by the body and/or by directly altering the function of some parts of the brain.
Phentermine is considered a last resort before surgery mainly due to the fact that it comes with numerous risks and dangerous side effects. Phentermine is also highly addictive. In the United States, it is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance that is illegal to purchase or possess without a prescription. As a result, the market is often flooded with counterfeit phentermine medications, some of which are diet supplements and even mere placebos.
When combined with doctor-approved diet reductions, exercise programs, and behavioral changes, phentermine is known to induce significant weight loss in obese people. Although the results will vary from patient to patient, as is often the case with weight loss medications, many patients experience positive results when they use the drug as prescribed and adhere to the recommended dietary and lifestyle changes.
The medication is taken orally and can either be issued as a once-a-day dose of 37.5 mg or smaller doses taken three times a day. Being a powerful stimulant, one of the side effects of phentermine is insomnia. As such, doctors recommend that the medication is taken about fourteen hours before bedtime.
In order to be effective and to avoid inducing severe side effects, it is imperative that Phentermine 37.5 is taken exactly as your physician prescribes it. Regular visits to the doctor will help you regulate your daily phentermine intake to a safe minimum. This will help to avoid the rare possibility of becoming addicted to this weight loss prescription.
In some cases, the drug may stop working or cause adverse effects, even when the patient follows their doctor’s instructions. This is a common occurrence that is often brought on by personal health issues and can only be resolved through consulting your doctor.
Phentermine is available in a variety of generic and brand name weight loss pills, the most popular of which is undoubtedly Adipex P. Depending on the country you’re in, you can purchase potent phentermine diet pills with a prescription at any local pharmacy.
Adipex P is one of the most common brand name phentermine diet pills that contains 37.5 mg of phentermine hydrochloride as its active ingredient. The medication exists in the form of a slow-release capsule that is swallowed whole (chewing or crushing it before ingesting increases the risk of adverse side effects) to provide a slow, continuous release of phentermine in the bloodstream.
Commonly prescribed to obese people looking for a drastic way to cut down their weight (other than surgery), Adipex P is the most sought after phentermine-based weight loss medication. As with any phentermine weight loss medication, Adipex P is effective when accompanied by plenty of exercises, a reduced calorie intake, and a significant tolerance to the (sometimes) extremely adverse effects of the drug. It is often prescribed to individuals who are too obese to receive a bypass or gastric ring surgery. This is so they can get to a healthier weight to be approved for surgery/anesthesia.
It is manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals in the United States, where it is considered a schedule IV controlled substance. This means that you can not legally purchase it without a doctor’s prescription. The demand for weight loss medications like Adipex-P varies with the seasons, summer being a period of high demand and winter being when the demand drops. Its price, just like any other weight loss medication, varies at selected pharmacies.
Adipex-P comes in the form of a fairly recognizable white pill with significant blue specks, embedded into the pill. Counterfeit Adipex P pills try to imitate these specks but often fall short. The blue specks are very difficult to replicate without introducing new ingredients to the drug.
The medication contains 37.5 mg of phentermine and, as such, it is completely normal to experience mild discomfort the first time you take it. It is the most potent phentermine-based weight loss pill and has its fair share of side effects that come along with the appetite suppressing and weight loss benefits.
Phentermine is also largely available in the form of a generic medication that is manufactured by KVK Tech. Known as Phentermine K25, these white and blue capsules mainly exist in 37.5mg dosage forms, but there are also 15mg and 30mg options available. Most doctors recommend gradually upping the dosage from 15mg to 37.5 mg over time, but only if the lower dose shows little to no effect on the weight or BMI of the patient.
Once again, these drugs are illegal in most countries and cannot be privately bought within the United States. They are highly addictive and come with an array of adverse side effects. They are, however, the cheapest form of phentermine diet pills currently available.
Lomaira is a fairly new KVK Tech diet pill that has been coined as an Adipex-P replacement for those who are too afraid of the side effects linked to the latter drug. Although they are almost exactly alike, these pills are quickly gaining popularity across the world as suitable Adipex-P substitutes despite the fact that they feature the same active ingredient.
Lomaira stands out from most phentermine diet pills on the market since it contains the lowest amounts of the appetite suppressant in each pill. The 8mg pills are, however, intended to be taken three times a day. Nevertheless, the overall phentermine intake is lower than the usual 37.5mg dose, and as such, the side effects might be a bit milder. Consequently, Lomaira diet pills take longer to have any positive effect on the weight loss of an individual.
Despite being viewed as the next big thing in diet pills, they are still phentermine-based and come with the same adverse side effects, including the risk of addiction and withdrawal symptoms. They are the only phentermine diet pills that can be taken more than once a day.
Lomaira pills have a very distinct shape and color. They are white pills with flecks of blue that are shaped like small doggy treats or dog bones. Due to their increasing demand, Lomaira pills are some of the most expensive phentermine diet pills on the market. They also have many counterfeits and like other phentermine medications, cannot be purchased without a prescription.
The Vivus Qsymia diet pill is a much less popular phentermine product, simply because it is more expensive than Adipex-P and Lomaira. It contains, by far, the highest concentration of phentermine (46g) combined with 7.5mg of the FDA-approved anticonvulsant drug called Topiramate. Of all the brand name and generic phentermine options, Qsymia has the least red tape associated with its purchase and possession. It is, however, more lethal when abused since it contains the highest levels of phentermine.
For about $500 a bottle, you get more aggressive appetite suppression and increased energy levels for a longer span of time. However, there is still no guarantee that this phentermine pill will be effective for everyone. It is also more likely to elicit severe side effects and withdrawal symptoms.
Inform your doctor about any allergies you may have to sympathomimetic amines before you take any phentermine medication. If you have previously experienced allergic episodes after using other appetite suppressants or decongestants such as pseudoephedrine, there is a high chance that the inactive ingredients within phentermine will elicit an allergic reaction. Your doctor should be able to guide you to the next best alternatives.
Phentermine and other phentermine-based medications should not be taken if you have certain medical conditions. Consult your doctor on the best course of action, especially if you have a history of alcohol and/or substance abuse and/or if you have previously suffered or suffer from glaucoma, vascular heart diseases, high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, pulmonary hypertension, mood impairments, and mental disorders such as psychosis, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or extreme anxiety.
You should also let your doctor know your medical history, especially if you have diabetes, heart problems, kidney problems, seizures, or recurrent high blood pressure. For people with diabetes, your diabetes dosage may be adjusted by your doctor to prevent dangerous drug interactions with the sympathomimetic amine. You will also be required to constantly ensure your sugar levels are regulated as per your doctor’s instructions.
One should not drive or operate heavy machinery after taking phentermine since it induces dizziness, blurred vision and, sometimes, causes drowsiness. Activities that require you to be alert should be put on hold until the medication is out of your system. Also, avoid taking any alcoholic beverages while on this medication.
Elderly people might experience the side effects of phentermine and other phentermine-based medications more severely on account of the deterioration of the kidney’s functioning with age. As such, they are more at risk to experience symptoms such as acute dizziness and an increase in blood pressure.
This medication should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. It may cause harm to an unborn baby and it can also be passed from the mother to the child via breastfeeding. For patients with nursing infants, make sure your doctor is aware beforehand.
Finally, notify your doctor or dentist that you’re taking phentermine medication before undergoing surgery of any kind.
Phentermine may interact dangerously with other drugs including appetite suppressants such as ephedra and diethylpropion. Let your doctor know about all the medication you’re on before starting any phentermine medication.
You should not stop or change the dosage of any drug you’re taking after you have already started taking phentermine without consulting your doctor. He/she may already be aware of the aforementioned drugs and may be watching to see if they have any adverse interactions.
MAO inhibitors (MAOIs) interact dangerously with Adipex-P and other phentermine medication, sometimes to the point of having fatal implications. Not only should you avoid taking MAO inhibitors such as tranylcypromine, rasagiline, selegiline, isocarboxazid, methylene blue, procarbazine, moclobemide, and linezolid when on this medication, you should ensure that you have not taken any of the inhibitors two weeks prior to starting your phentermine medication.
Phentermine should not be taken with TCAs, SNRIs such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, duloxetine, and venlafaxine, other stimulants, guanethidine (high blood pressure medication), narcotics such as MDMA (ecstasy) or cocaine. Notify your doctor if you’re currently on other forms of medication, whether herbal, non-prescription or otherwise. You should also let it be known if you’re currently using medication that induces drowsiness, such as carbamazepine (anti-seizure medication), psychiatric medicines such as amitriptyline, risperidone, trazodone, antihistamines, ADHD medication, muscle relaxants, pain relievers such as codeine, or sleep-inducing medication such as zolpidem, alprazolam, and diazepam. Check to ensure that all the medicine you’re currently taking—herbal or non-herbal—does not contain diet aids, decongestants, or any other constituents that may trigger an increased heart rate and raise your blood pressure.
Adipex-P interacts dangerously with medications such as Redux (dexfenfluramine) and Phen-Fen (fenfluramine) and often results in the onset of a rare and highly fatal lung condition known as pulmonary hypertension.
Phentermine is an extremely powerful stimulant and can react with other stimulants as mild as caffeine. Keep your caffeine intake in check (whether it’s tea, coffee, or other caffeinated beverages) and refrain from consuming large amounts of chocolate.
Using phentermine will interfere with brain scans, particularly those used to diagnose Parkinson’s disease.
Adhere to the following guidelines in order to prevent complications from arising when taking phentermine medication such as Adipex-P:
Do not take it if it is almost time for your next dose. Otherwise, missed doses should be taken as soon as possible to avoid ruining the dosing schedule. Do not try to compensate for a missed dose by taking two instead of one. You may experience grave side effects that could potentially put your life in danger.
Overdosing on phentermine medication is almost always fatal if help is not sought soon enough. Call the emergency poison helpline at 1-800-222-1222 immediately.
For adults: Adipex-P 37.5mg should be taken orally once a day either 1 hour before or 2 hours after breakfast. Alternatively, it can be taken as 18.75mg half pills twice a day.
For children: Adipex-P and other phentermine medications are not recommended for patients under the age of 17 years.
When taking any phentermine weight loss medication, it is common to experience symptoms such as the following:
These are considered mild side effects that are only mildly to moderately uncomfortable. As such, it is not necessary to seek medical attention unless they become unbearable.
However, if you experience any of these serious side effects after taking Adipex-P or any other phentermine medication, consult your doctor immediately:
If these side effects appear during the course of your medication, you should stop taking it and seek medical attention immediately:
Rarely, phentermine medication can trigger a fatal lung condition known as pulmonary hypertension. It also increases the risk of heart disease significantly after prolonged use. Seek medical attention immediately if you experience the following symptoms:
Other than the listed side effects, phentermine can also elicit serious allergic reactions in people who are allergic to medication such as Adipex-P Call your doctor immediately if you notice the following symptoms of an allergic reaction:
Despite being the most widely recommended weight loss medication on the market, a lot of people are still unsure about phentermine’s capabilities, particularly how much weight it can help them lose. As is the norm with non-surgical weight loss solutions, losing weight while on phentermine medication takes time. It can take as little as two weeks or as long as a month to see any progress on the scale.
A lot is dependent on your lifestyle. Dietary programs are usually offered alongside phentermine doses to not only speed up the process but also to keep the body healthy throughout the process of losing weight. In order to experience satisfactory progress within short periods of time, it is essential that the patient adopts healthy eating habits and improves his/her body’s metabolism by partaking in regular physical exercise.
The only way to ensure that phentermine is effective and without too many side effects is to adhere to the doctor’s instructions which will include a diet and exercise regime that is specifically suited for you. As for the exact figure, you can lose anywhere from 5 to 10 pounds in a month depending on your body’s tolerance to the appetite suppressant, how well you follow the prescription, your daily eating habits, and many other factors. To better understand how phentermine is of benefit to you, you should have a comprehensive talk with your doctor to learn about the various side effects, dosages, and where to place your expectations. And because everyone is different, the results will always vary quite significantly, so don’t expect to lose as little or as much weight as other patients.
During the first week is when you can expect to see a lot of progress as the body sheds its water weight. Your body may or may not lose more than two pounds depending on your original weight. However, the weight loss process should be gradual, controlled, and not harmful to your health in any way.
After the first week, your body is expected to continue to lose weight at a rate of about 2 pounds per week. Once again, this is just an estimated (average) figure, so individuals may lose more or less weight depending on certain factors. Losing weight at a rate of faster than 2 pounds a week could indicate that you are not just burning fat, but also losing important muscle mass.
In addition to following the doctor’s orders, adopting a healthy diet, and exercising regularly, it is important that you also keep your expectations reasonable. As effective as it is, it takes a time to see any significant weight loss changes when using phentermine medication, even if you use the highly potent Adipex-P. Having unrealistic expectations is the biggest reason why most people give up on phentermine too soon. Expect to lose not more than 2 to 3 pounds a week. As small as that may seem, it ramps up to quite an impressive accumulative total in the long run.
Most of the weight loss fad diets out there only offer fast-acting but temporary solutions to your problems. Once you go off those diets, you will find yourself stacking on the pounds you worked so hard to lose.
The pounds that you lose slowly and gradually are unlikely to come back even after you go off the medication. This should be your aim; to lose weight permanently rather than to have an effective short-term solution that will eventually leave you in the same position as before.
The easiest and only legal way to obtain any phentermine HCL medication is by getting it prescribed by your doctor. Although it is widely available in pharmacies across the United States and other countries, buying it over the counter or ordering it online is considered illegal.
Doctors consider phentermine medication to be the last resort before the patient is subjected to weight loss surgeries such as liposuction. It should be established that the patient is indeed suffering from obesity, even after trying various weight loss methods unsuccessfully. A visit to the doctor is absolutely necessary in order to get a phentermine prescription.
Once there, the doctor will consider the following factors:
Phentermine medication is prescribed in 30-day doses at a time for several health reasons. Each bottle of medication goes for around $100 (Adipex-P may be cheaper). After finishing a dose, your doctor will first evaluate whether you need to continue the medication or stop taking it before prescribing another 30-day dose or starting to gradually taper your phentermine intake. Remember, phentermine can be addictive and it can have serious health implications if abused.
Your usual doctor or hospital should be the first place to ask for a phentermine prescription. However, since doctors don’t always qualify their patients for phentermine medication based on one reason or the other, there are few other options you can try:
The weight loss clinics around your area are the next best option since they are capable of legally prescribing phentermine to their patients. Visit one if your doctor will not prescribe the medication for you. Keep in mind that getting a prescription from a weight loss clinic will cost you significantly more money.
When buying anything online, drugs or otherwise, one generally has to be wary of the products they’re purchasing. Buying phentermine medication online is tricky since there are a lot of knockoff products. Furthermore, it is considered illegal to buy and ship phentermine via mail.
If you choose this option, be keen on how the product’s name is written. Instead of phentermine, some online pharmacies sell phentarmine or phentremine. Others sell fake pills disguised as official brand name pills like Adipex-P. Buying phentermine online should generally be the last option.
No legally licensed and registered online pharmacy will offer or sell any fake or illegal drugs. There are some steps you can take to ensure that you are using a legitimate online pharmacy. The best thing you can do, if you need to order online, is to check the website with your doctor. He or she will be able to verify if you are looking to fill your prescription through a legal pharmacy online.
Outside of the US, phentermine is sold under different names. Duromine and Ionamine tablets are some of the more popular ones. They were banned from the US for having side effects that were too adverse and severe, even when taken correctly. However, they are the most sought after phentermine medication in Australia and they go for no less than $100 per bottle.
Other than appetite suppression, the pills don’t do much in terms of increasing the body’s metabolic functioning to enable it to digest food better. The pills come in 30-day dosages that are only accessible via doctor’s prescription in Australia.
If you are unable to get a prescription in the U.S. or any other country, you should never try to illegally purchase Phentermine online. There is a plethora of over the counter options that you can try first rather than making the dangerous decision of trying to buy phentermine illegally. Check out some of the most popular supplements that users all over the world are touting and celebrating. Just like with phentermine, you should adjust your daily caloric intake and engage in more exercise to attain the best weight loss results when you start a dietary supplement. And as always, talk with your doctor before starting any over the counter supplement. You are not alone in your weight loss pursuit. Check out the many options that are out there for you. You can do this!
