Phentermine is the popular appetite suppressant in the medical genre of phnethylamines and amphetamines. It is the shortened term for “phenyl-tertiary-butylamine”. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use the short term weight reduction treatment of obese patients It is used with the combination of the right exercise, diet and other behavioral modifications.

This weight loss medicine is typically prescribed to patients who have an increased medical risk due to their weight and this works by assisting the release of certain chemicals in the brain that controls a person’s appetite.

Phentermine stimulates the adrenal glands in the hypothalamus portion of the brain to produce norepinephrine. This is a neurotransmitter in the brain or a chemical messenger that triggers a “fight-or-flight response” in the patient’s mind that helps in reducing the feeling of hunger. The drug also works outside the brains. It releases adrenaline causing fat cells or epinephrine that breaks down stored fat which the end result is the reduction of hunger. With clinically significant doses, the drug induces the release of dopamine and serotonin which has a lesser effect as that of norepinephrine.

Dosage Prescribed by Doctor

Phentermine should be taken exactly in the doses prescribed by the doctor and combined with regular exercise and modifications in the patient’s diet and lifestyle. Do not take the drug in larger or smaller amounts than recommended. Do not consume the drug longer than it was prescribed. Typically, this is a drug taken to a maximum of 12 weeks. To avoid adverse reactions, the patient must strictly follow the doctor’s instructions.

Best Time to Take Phentermine for More Efficient Weight Loss

The best time to take the medicine is during the day on an empty stomach the moment that you wake up. It is highly recommended to take the drug before eating breakfast or around 2 hours after breakfast. Since the drug can cause disruptions in your sleeping patterns, it is recommended that it is taken early within the day not later than 6 in the evening or at least 10 hours before you go to sleep.

If you skipped a dose, take the medicine as soon as you remember. But if the next dosage is very near to the time that you remembered, forget about taking the extra dosage to make up for the skipped one.

Normal Dosage of Phentermine

Bottom line is, do not take the dosage more than it was prescribed. The normal phentermine dosage recommended for adults below the age of 60 is 15 to 37.5 milligrams per day. Adults above 60 years old are given reduced dosages. The drug is not recommended to be given to patients 16 years old and below.

Phentermine is a substance that has the tendency to cause habit forming effects. Do not suddenly stop taking the dosage or you might experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms or if you feel that the medication is not working properly, it is best to consult your doctor. And of course, follow the best time to take Phentermine to avoid any complications.

Some Precautions Before Using Phentermine for Weight Loss

There are certain conditions wherein the patient should avoid using Phentermine with other drugs. It is best to seek a doctor’s consultation first to get their approval before consuming the drug. Phentermine should not be taken by the patient if they are pregnant, wants to have a baby, has allergies to other drugs, are taking other prescription medicines or have just consumed alcohol because these can lead to serious side effects.

Becoming pregnant is one of the most wonderful things that could ever happen to a woman. However, some women are afraid to become pregnant because of the difficulties associated with pregnancy. Usually, pregnancy can lead to other medical conditions such as gestational diabetes, heart diseases, and obesity. The possibility of getting or aggravating these conditions becomes higher because of genetic factors.

Obesity Common Problem During Pregnancy

Obesity, for example, is a common problem of most pregnant women or women who wants to get pregnant. Doctors advise women to plan their pregnancy and to adopt proper spacing to safeguard the health of the mother and most importantly the baby. Maintaining good health before, during, and after pregnancy is a must to avoid health related problems such as obesity.

However, being overweight or obese should not hinder women to bear a child. There are a lot of interventions or even medications that can help eliminate the aforementioned health risks. Eating the right kinds of foods is still the simplest solution to overweight or obese women who want to get pregnant or are pregnant. Living a healthy lifestyle will not only make a woman fit but it will also make the baby healthy inside the womb.

Should I Take Weight Loss Medications?

I am obese and I want to get pregnant. Can I take weight loss drugs such as Phentermine? This is a common question for a lot of women. It is a fact that Phentermine is an effective weight loss drug that has been in the market for decades. But should we recommend it to women who want to get pregnant? The answer is yes. Getting back to your normal weight is a must if you want to conceive.

If your body mass index is more than 30, that means you are already an obese, taking Phentermine will solve your problem. Ask your doctor about this medication if you want to trim that extra weight so that when you are ready to conceive, you are assured that obesity related complications will not happen.

I’m Already Pregnant, Can I Take Phentermine?

If you are already pregnant, gaining weight is inevitable. But if you feel that you are gaining more weight than what a pregnant woman should have, consult your doctor. Don’t just take any medication especially weight loss pills or follow a strict diet for weight loss. You should not restrict intake of necessary nutrients as it may also affect your baby. This is the time where you must eat nutritious foods to nourish your baby inside the womb.

Phentermine is an appetite suppressant drug. If you take it while pregnant, the amount of food intake will be lessened which will also affect the intake of necessary nutrients for the growing fetus. Doctors usually recommend a well balanced diet to avoid getting more weight. Starving yourself during pregnancy is a big no no. The Organization of Teratology Information Services also recommends that weight loss initiative should not be done during pregnancy.

Needs More Studies on Phentermine use During Pregnancy

Another reason why ob-gynes would not recommend Phentermine is the insufficient clinical studies on the use of Phentermine on pregnant women. There is also little information if it has direct negative effects on babies such as physical abnormalities. Breast-feeding mothers are also discouraged to take Phentermine because the weight loss drug can be passed on to babies.

Phentermine combined with topiramate has been submitted to the FDA as an anti-obesity drug. However, it was rejected by the group last year because of adverse concerns. Despite being effective in promoting weight loss, the FDA has turned down approval because of concerns such as metabolic acidosis, cognitive disorders, birth defects, and increased heart rate.

A new study has been released this year in response to the request of the FDA to submit a comprehensive assessment of the drug combo’s potential to cause any kind of birth defect as well as strategies to mitigate any known risk. Once the Phentermine/topiramate combo is approved by the FDA, it is expected to become a schedule IV drug.

The study is known as the Conquer trial, which compared two doses of the combo drug in obese and overweight individuals who also have cardiometabolic risk factors. The intake of the drug is taken in conjunction with lifestyle and diet changes. This study, which was published recently, was headed by Dr. Kishore M. Gadde together with his colleagues.

The Study and its Results

The study involved adults who have BMIs of 27 to 45 kg/m2 having two or more comorbidities. This may include hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidia, and abdominal obesity. The adults are grouped into three groups, which are tested in placebo, low dosage of the Phentermine/topiramate (7.5 mg Phentermine and 46 mg topiramate), and a higher dosage of the combo (15 mg Phentermine and 92 mg topiramate).

After 56 weeks, those taking a higher dosage of the drug achieved the highest mean weight loss, which is nearly two kilograms higher than the mean weight loss of people who are in the group given a lower dosage of the drug. Those taking placebo, on the other hand, have lost a mean weight of 1.4 kilogram.

Though it can be noted that the weight loss efficiency is better in higher dosages of the drug, adverse effects are on the rise, too. The most common side effects experienced by those taking the combo drug are dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, insomnia, dysgeusia, and other depression and anxiety related problems. The published report, however, did not mention birth defects as part of the adverse effects of the Phentermine/topiramate combination.

The Medical Benefits of Topiramate

Before topiramate was combined with Phentermine to address obesity problems, it was sold first in 1995 to treat epileptic seizures as well as the Lemox Gastaut syndrome. Topiramate was and still is classified as an anticonvulsant.

Besides weight loss, other benefits of topiramate are better sleep, fewer headaches, and a cure to migraine. However, despite a lot of positive side effects, topiramate can also cause certain negative side effects like glaucoma, kidney stones, confusion, nightmares, lack of concentration, birth defects, psychosis, and suicidal thoughts. Its less common side effects include vomiting, nausea, painful urination, fainting, and severe back pain.

Taking Phentermine with Topiramate Needs Doctor’s Supervision

It is true that topiramate has a lot of great medical benefits to offer. Being combined with Phentermine, it becomes more of an effective drug to help people who are obese and overweight. However, unless this drug gets the approval of the FDA, people like you must be very careful about this drug.

Hence, it is always best to consult a medical professional to give you advice regarding your weight loss and other medical problems.