Phentermine Uses

Phentermine is prescribed to help people lose weight. It is taken orally and used in combination with diet, exercise and behavior modification as an overall approach to the treatment of obesity. Prescriptions of phentermine are usually given to people who have a significant amount of weight to lose for health reasons.

Patients for whom phentermine is prescribed usually have not been able to reduce weight through diet and exercise alone. Typical candidates for the drug are at risk for developing heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and other weight related conditions. Weight reduction is often a deciding factor in whether or not a person with obesity develops a weight-related illness.

Phentermine is in the class of medications known as sympathomimetic amines. There are several theories about how phentermine helps people lose weight. One possibility is that it makes people less hungry, so they eat less. Phentermine may also increase metabolism so that the body burns more calories at a faster rate. Another possibility is that phentermine acts on areas of the brain that control appetite.

The dosage of phentermine prescribed depends on the individual patient’s health, medical status and response to the medication. In many cases, phentermine is taken orally once daily, usually in the morning before eating or one to two hours after eating. The pills should be swallowed whole, not crushed or chewed.

Phentermine tablets can also be taken in three small (8 mg) doses up to three times per day, half an hour before eating. It is best not to take phentermine late in the day as this may cause a person to have difficulty sleeping at night. If a patient forgets to take a dose. It should be taken as soon as it is remembered, unless it is remembered late in the day.

In that case, the forgotten dose should be skipped, and the patient should resume taking phentermine the next day. A double dose should never be taken to make up for a missed dose.

Phentermine is used to jump-start a diet and exercise program. It is usually taken for only a short period of time and should not be combined with other appetite suppressants. Best results are seen when phentermine is used regularly for the prescribed period of time. It is recommended that patients take phentermine at the same time each day to make it easier to remember. Serious side effects may occur if phentermine is used for a prolonged period of time or combined with other diet pills.

Taking too much phentermine may also increase the risk of addiction, so it is very important to take the pills only as directed by a doctor. Patients who become dependent on phentermine may experience reactions such as depression and extreme fatigue when they stop taking the pills. To avoid these types of reactions, the dose of phentermine is usually reduced gradually when it is time to stop taking the drug.

While addiction to phentermine is rare, it is possible, so it is important to take only the prescribed amount. The dosage should never be increased, taken more frequently or taken for a longer period of time than prescribed. In some cases, patients will notice that the medication stops working after it has been used for a few weeks. If this occurs, the dosage should never be increased without direction from a doctor. If the medication stops working, patients may be advised to stop taking it.