What is Phentermine
Phentermine is an appetite suppressant drug that has been used for decades to help people lose weight. Phentermine was originally used as an anti-depressant medication and was prescribed under the brand name Adipex-P. While it was originally designed to treat depression, it has since been found to be effective in helping people lose weight. Phentermine is a strong appetite suppressant and when taken with a reduced-calorie diet, it can help people lose between five and ten pounds per month.
Phentermine is FDA approved but is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance because it has a potential for abuse and may lead to an addiction under long-term use. However, this is the lowest possible risk category for abuse. You should store this medication in a safe place out of reach of children.
Common Brands: Lomaira, Adipex-P
Phentermine is available in two brand-name forms, Adipex-P and Lomaira. Both contain phentermine as the active ingredient, but utilize different strengths. Adipex-P comes as a tablet with 37.5 milligrams (mg) phentermine, and Lomaira contains 8mg phentermine.
There is also a generic version of phentermine. The generic is considered to be as safe and effective as the original drug and will cost less out of pocket than the brand name medication. The generic comes in a 15mg or 30mg form. Additionally, the oral disintegrating form of phentermine is only available as a generic as well.
When taking phentermine, your Alfie doctor will determine the correct dosage for you and prescribe your medication accordingly.
How It Works
Phentermine is a stimulant, so it increases the activity of the central nervous system, which in turn increases metabolism. Phentermine works by increasing the concentration of certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters, which are responsible for controlling appetite. One of these neurotransmitters is norepinephrine. Norepinephrine is responsible for sending messages from one part of the brain to another, which controls a variety of mental processes, including hunger and fullness. When norepinephrine levels increase due to phentermine treatment, they tell the brain that the body has had enough to eat, reducing hunger and causing weight loss.
What Are the Benefits?
In addition to weight loss, there are multiple benefits associated with phentermine. When taking phentermine, you do not need to take the medication consistently for long periods of time to see results. In addition, stimulants like caffeine aren't needed to maintain weight loss after the prescription has stopped. With phentermine, you also do not feel tired as is sometimes a complaint with other weight loss medications.
Is This Prescription Effective for Weight Loss?
Several clinical studies show that phentermine can provide meaningful weight loss. While the FDA has approved it only for short-term use of less than 12 weeks, doctors often prescribe it off-label for longer periods. Doctors may also prescribe it intermittently; which means they will allow you to take a break from the medication every so often before resuming again.
The average amount of weight lost while taking phentermine is 5-7% of your initial body weight after 3 months as reported in research. Some people report losing even more, such as up to 30%. When compared to other medications, this shows a significant improvement in terms of quick and sustainable results - though not everyone responds the same way. When combined with a GLP-1 medication, you may lose a much larger percentage of your body weight as well.
If you don't lose much weight while using it our provider team may adjust your dosage or switch you out to something else altogether.
Understanding Your Dosage
The correct dosage for phentermine will vary depending on your medical history and current health condition. Your doctor will determine the right dosage for you after reviewing your medical history and conducting a physical exam. The recommended starting dose for most people is 15 milligrams( mg) per day, taken as one 15 mg tablet three times a day with food. You may be able to increase your dose to 30 mg per day after several weeks if needed. If you have high blood pressure or any other medical conditions that may be affected by phentermine use, you should consult with your doctor before using this medication.
Prior to 2016, the only available doses of phentermine were 15, 30, and 37.5 mg. However, since it’s a best practice for doctors to prescribe the lowest effective dose, the FDA approved an 8-mg formulation (Lomaira) in 2016 - which can be taken up to three times daily at least 30 minutes before meals. For higher dosages (15, 30, or 37.5 mg), you can take them once per day in the morning before breakfast or 1–2 hours after breakfast - again just no later than early evening as this may cause trouble sleeping due to elevated levels throughout night time.
Phentermine Reviews
- Verified phentermine user: "I took Adipex for 1 year and lost 90lbs. I changed my eating habits and starting doing light exercise 3 days a week. I've been off Adipex for 3 months and haven't gained any weight back."
- Verified phentermine user: "In 5 days I have lost 9 pounds, from 327lb to 318lb. I know the drug isn't a long term solution for better health. But it's a great jump start and it's helping me break out of the cycle."
- Verified phentermine user: "I started off on the highest mg which is 37.5 and it has worked very well for me. In my first month I had lost 26lbs and in 6 months, I lost a total of 90lbs."
Alternative Medications
While phentermine has been shown to be effective for weight loss, other medications may be more effective for your specific biology.
Topiramate is a drug that has been used on its own to treat seizures but, like phentermine, also has appetite-reducing properties. When combined with phentermine (sold under the brand name Qsymia) it has been associated with the highest odds of losing at least 5% of initial body weight versus phentermine alone.
How Much Does Phentermine Cost?
The cost of phentermine without insurance starts at around $10 to $20 for a month's supply. This retail price of phentermine and its brand counterparts can vary by pharmacy and location.
Regardless of the pharmacy , the generic form of the medication is typically cheaper than the brand medication, which is why your provider may prescribe you a generic medication rather than the brand name.
The cost of phentermine can vary in price depending on the pharmacy your phentermine prescription is filled at.
Can I Get a Coupon for Phentermine Pills?
There are various coupons online for phentermine. You can visit websites like GoodRX or RXSaver to see if a coupon is available for this medication.
Can I Buy It Over-the-Counter or Online?
Phentermine is not available over-the-counter and must be prescribed by a medical professional. Patients should be wary of purchasing phentermine online because some websites may not be legitimate and may try to sell counterfeit or expired drugs. It is best to use phentermine directly prescribed by a physician in combination with other medications so your progress can be monitored by clinical experts for your safety.
How Long Does It Take To See Results?
You can expect to lose up to 7% of your starting weight taking phentermine alone in 6 months, on average. When combined with GLP-1 or other medications, you can see upwards of 20% with these medications.
Are There Any Possible Side Effects?
Phentermine can cause serious side effects if not taken appropriately. Some of the potential side effects include heart attack and stroke, seizures, anxiety and insomnia. The most common side effect reported by people taking phentermine is dry mouth. This can be a result of dehydration or a lack of saliva, so it is important to drink plenty of water when taking phentermine to avoid this problem. Other common side effects include dizziness and constipation. If you experience any other side effects, such as chest pain, while taking phentermine, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Do not use phentermine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding a baby. You should not use phentermine if you have glaucoma, overactive thyroid, heart disease including severe heart problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or advanced coronary artery disease, extreme agitation, or a history of drug abuse.
Do not use this medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine. A dangerous drug interaction could occur.
You should also not take phentermine with alcohol as an unsafe interaction may occur.
