Phentermine support

BetterMe588

Anyone here taking phentermine?
If so please feel free to share your experience and success. How long you've been taking it and how much weight lost? Any tips for maximum weight loss? Nutritional tips? Workout tips?

BodyByBex

I hope not. Side Effects:
Chest pain
decreased ability to exercise
dizziness
fainting
fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
headache
numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
swelling of the feet or lower legs
trembling or shaking of the legs, arms, hands, or feet
trouble breathing
trouble with thinking, speaking, or walking
weakness
Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
dry mouth
false or unusual sense of well-being
hives or welts
inability to have or keep an erection
increased in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
increased interest in sexual intercourse
itching
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
redness of the skin
skin rash
unpleasant taste
Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
severe mental changes

Eat less move more. It works.

psych101

What is phentermine?

mangrothian

I'll be blunt and warn you that you wont see a lot of love for phentermine on the forums here.

There have been lots of previous posts in the forums about phentermine previously; I would maybe do a forum search to see what other people's results and opinions of it are.

Any tips for maximum weight loss, nutrition & exercise are the same as if you weren't on it. Eat less, move more.

mangrothian

psych101 wrote: »

What is phentermine?

Phentermine is a prescription-only pharmaceutical geared towards weight loss by suppressing appetite and increasing metabolism & energy levels. It has similar chemical properties to amphetamines.

justfenix

It's a nice jump start but if it's the main tool in your arsenal, you are going to end up back where you started when you come off it.

kommodevaran

Don't.

Be healthy.

Eat at a deficit and move.

chivalryder

Isn't one of the other side effects death?

trinatrina1984

chivalryder wrote: »

Isn't one of the other side effects death?

Well that's one way to lose weight I suppose.

nanabear1379

OK. Obviously everyone says it is the devil. But I used it to lose my weight and along with support from my husband have lost 66 lbs. and am finally at my goal after three years. I did not take phentermine the entire time. Only in the beginning and again this past year to jump start when I was stalled. But I consider it a tool, and will continue to use it whenever I feel I need it. Yes, I agree with everyone here that learning to eat right is the best way to lose. But I knew that I could not do it on my own. I now can, it has become my lifestyle. And this app has been so helpful in keeping me on track too. Writing it down makes a difference. There CAN be side affects. For most of the time I only took 1/2 tab and it worked fine to control my cravings. BUT you have to be ready to commit to the weight loss or they are right, it will come back when you stop. I KNOW I will never go back. I am done fighting that evil!!!!! Good luck!

floridagirl7264

This is a serious medication to take. Not that any medication isn't serious, but this is like speed. Doctors weigh the benefit of a drug versus the side effects. I'm on a drug that has some serious side effects the worst is significant weight gain. However, despite the side effects I'm experiencing, I'm getting so much benefit from the drug that I'm staying on it and will battle the weight gain. Try phentermine. See how it makes you feel. If the benefits outweigh the side effects, you'll have your answer.

I don't know if anyone remembers but in the 90's there was a drug combo called fenphen which was pulled from the market because it was dangerous med to take. I remember I was working for a man that was taking it. I ended up quitting on the spot because of his explosive anger. Phentermine is one of the drugs in fenphen.

jainasolo2001

I have been taking Phentermine for about 7 months and right now I am down 110 lbs. Is it a miracle- no. Does it help- yes. I still have to do the work.

soldiergrl_101

I took phentermine for months and didn't change my lifestyle or my eating habits and I didn't loose a pound. I changed my eating habbits and my lifestyle without phentermine and I lost 60lbs...Either way you have to do the work

chivalryder

jainasolo2001 wrote: »

I have been taking Phentermine for about 7 months and right now I am down 110 lbs. Is it a miracle- no. Does it help- yes. I still have to do the work.

Wait.

Did you just say you have lost 110 lbs in 7 months?

That's over 15 lbs per month.

4 lbs per week!

I seriously hoping you have doctor supervision and I suggest you suggest having doctor supervision because if not, that's just blatantly stupid.

NextPage

Please do not believe anyone who tells you that you need a drug to "jump start" you efforts to loss weight. You have to do the hard work anyway as even the folks that have used this drug have mentioned. Just because a few folks didn't have bad side effects isn't a good reason to start something that clinical studies show have adverse effects for the majority (game of russian routette perhaps?). If you need a motivator (who doesn't) to get started try a low calorie cooking class, new dance class or other healthy option. This is a journey to a thinner healthier you, no?

rainbowbow

Does it work? Of course it works, you're practically taking prescription METH.

Is it sustainable? No.
Does it teach you to eat properly? No.
Does it teach you to maintain your loss? No.
Does it provide the knowledge needed to maintain your new weight? No.
Does it help you count calories and learn about nutrition? No.


But on the plus side, you'll be really productive at work and forget about eating.... so... atleast you've got that going for you, which is nice.

MomTo3Lovez

chivalryder wrote: »

jainasolo2001 wrote: »

I have been taking Phentermine for about 7 months and right now I am down 110 lbs. Is it a miracle- no. Does it help- yes. I still have to do the work.

Wait.

Did you just say you have lost 110 lbs in 7 months?

That's over 15 lbs per month.

4 lbs per week!

I seriously hoping you have doctor supervision and I suggest you suggest having doctor supervision because if not, that's just blatantly stupid.

I believe you cannot get this without a prescription form an MD anyway, I wouldn't know cause I have never used it nor been inclined to use it.

And if the poster has a significant amount of weight to lose I don't think it's that far fetched that she could lose 4 lbs per week. But I am not a professional so I don't really know for sure.

Anyway I do agree that no matter what an MD should be supervising regardless because you are right not having supervision by an MD is stupid.

shamcd

I took phentermine a couple of times about 10 years ago, I HATED it. I was jacked up all the time, sweaty, heart raced constantly, and felt sick the entire time on it. The appetite suppression it provided paled in comparison to the side effects, I couldn't handle it for more than two weeks at a time. As soon as I went off of it, the weight returned. I was miserable.

Dave55412

Eating more protein, drinking more water and being more active will suppress an appetite better than any pill.

Jackie9950

I am currently taking phentermine. My doctor prescribed it to me for 2 months. I had a BMI over 40 and I was told I had hepatic stenosis or "fatty liver".

I did notice that in the beginning (the first week) I felt like I was on speed. My heart would pound and I was running around like a crazy person. I also had trouble sleeping the first 3 nights. My doctor warned me that this would happen, but wear off. And it did after about a week. I am on my 4th week taking it, and I have little to no side effects, in fact I have a perfectly normal appetite. I eat 3-4 times a day, exercise 6 days a week. This pill is not a miracle pill by any means. I feel like it helped me get through the beginning phase where I reduced my calories and cut out all the crap food. I know myself enough, that in the beginning if I stumbled or didn't lose weight, I would have acted like a toddler and through a fit and then binged. I know that despicable fact about myself. Now that I am past that phase and I am adapted to eating healthier foods and surprisingly like them, I have reduced the phentermine to every other day and then within the next 2 weeks I will stop taking them.

I think the pills have gotten a bad rap, much like pit-bulls have. People have abused them and horrible things have happened and now everyone thinks they are evil. This drug isn't meant to be on more than 6 months and it is not to be your way of losing weight by any means. I guess I used it as a way to flush my system of all the crap food I felt I wanted at all times.

People will say that phentermine is hard on your body. It might be, but obesity was hard on mine. Phentermine did not hurt me in anyway because I use it properly and I have changed my lifestyle.

Good luck!

Lib_B

I took it for awhile a few years ago. It jump started me. I lost about 40 lbs while on it. I was super productive and focused at work (I am ADHD, so stimulants have a pretty positive effect on me). You still have to do the work of counting calories and exercising - it just helps keeping hunger at bay until you adjust to eating far fewer calories. Additionally, I saw my doctor weekly for blood pressure checks - the main reason I stopped taking it - it was just inconvenient. Not a cure all, I hope it works for you. Most people, when they stop taking it, if they haven't changed their habits will gain weight back. For those who do maintain the habits, it's not unusual for about a 5 lb rebound gain before you start losing again. Definitely not a silver bullet, but if you approach it as a tool and not a cure, you could have good results.

maillemaker

I am currently taking phentermine with topiramate. This is the generic equivalent of Qsymia.

Phentermine is amphetamine - speed. Topiramate is used to treat seizures and is somewhat of a depressant. Both drugs have appetite suppressant qualities.

They are, however, serious drugs and require a prescription. Doctors generally will not prescribe unless you have a BMI over 30 and at least one comorbidity due to obesity, such as high blood pressure.

Qsymia is a time-release, once-a-day pill of phentermine and topiramate. But it is expensive - about $180 a month. Doctors may also prescribe generic phentermine and topiramate. I take one 15 mg phentermine first thing in the morning (it takes all day to burn off ) with a 25 mg topirmate. I am supposed to take a second topirmate in the afternoon but I never do as I do not need it. The generics cost me about $30 a month.

These are low doses of phentermine and topiramate. The topiramate is given in doses far lower than generally given for migraines or seizures and so the risk of side effects is low.

The first two weeks I felt very uncomfortable. Very edgy. But that has gone away. I definitely feel "amped up" in the morning after I take the pills but this goes away by lunch. It is definitely an effective appetite suppressant for me.

Topriamate can effect taste. I can no longer stand the taste of Diet Coke. So after drinking it for decades, I quit cold turkey on February 18th and now drink nothing but water. So that is a pleasant side effect.

My doctor will only prescribe for 6 months then I have to take a 2 month break.

I find the pills very effective as my biggest problem with weight loss and maintaining a calorie deficit is hunger. The pills get rid of hunger, so willpower is no longer an issue. This makes weight loss much easier.

Is it sustainable? No.
Does it teach you to eat properly? No.
Does it teach you to maintain your loss? No.
Does it provide the knowledge needed to maintain your new weight? No.
Does it help you count calories and learn about nutrition? No.

I agree that if you are going to do this, you still need to log your food as it is essential that you learn what proper portions are.

However, if learning to eat properly is simply a habit formed over time, then over the course of, say, 6 months to a year you should learn the new eating habits over that period of time.

However, I suspect that when you stop taking the drug the hunger will come roaring back as the body detects the fat loss and decreases metabolism and increases hunger to try and compensate, and this effect has been seen in the lab for weeks and extrapolated out for years.

So while you may learn new habits, my fear and suspicion is that when you get off the drug the hunger will come roaring back and you will be back on willpower again to try and stick to what you have learned about calorie counting and proper eating. Unfortunately, as my past experience with Redux back in the 1990's showed, willpower usually loses in the end.

But, I'm willing to try it anyway, because it makes the weight loss effortless while I'm on the drug. My mother-in-law lost 60 pounds over last year while on it.

I'm going to ride the train as long as I can to get what results I can.

maillemaker

Eating more protein, drinking more water and being more active will suppress an appetite better than any pill.

My personal experience with the drug is that that is definitely not true for me.

fatkidonadiet

I am currently taking Adipex (a brand name for phentermine) - I went to the doctor in Jan. weighing 306 lbs. with a BMI of almost 48 -- my BMI is now just under 42 after three months and I weigh 266.6. My doctor will not prescribe more than a three month's supply, and made it very clear that if I were not losing weight or not taking this seriously, she would not prescribe me another month's worth. A full dose did not make me feel very good - headaches, nausea, sleepless, extreme dry mouth. I decided to only take half a dose, along with eating carefully, logging food, and exercising regularly. The doctor told me if I take a half dose, I can stretch out the prescription for 6 months and I will have a more natural transition to doing things on my own. In the beginning, I was very careful to take my half dose every morning and felt like it helped with my cravings *just enough* that I wouldn't eat that extra 200 calories worth of snacks. I am also taking a multivitamin and turmeric supplements. As time has gone on, there are some days I forget to even take the medicine and I still feel very much in control of what I am eating on those days because I have gotten into the habit of eating healthily. I try to eat 100 g of protein a day and keep my carbs under 125 g per day with lots of veggies, water, and fruit. I eat about 1/4th the bread and white flour I used to eat. I go to the doctor each month for them to check my BP and heart rate and to weigh in. Every time, it's been good, in fact, they've all been improving with each visit. I've lost about 39 lbs. I still have enough medication to take for the next 2.5 months or so. At this point, I only take a half dose 5x per week rather than every day. It has been a good experience for me, my doctor has been excellent about monitoring my use and my health, and it's just what I've needed to lose this weight once and for all. Good luck!

maillemaker

I, too, am starting to only take the medicine every other day. Or I will go two days on, one day off.

Iknewyouweretrouble

mangrothian wrote: »

I'll be blunt and warn you that you wont see a lot of love for phentermine on the forums here.

There have been lots of previous posts in the forums about phentermine previously; I would maybe do a forum search to see what other people's results and opinions of it are.

Any tips for maximum weight loss, nutrition & exercise are the same as if you weren't on it. Eat less, move more.

Phen and PhenD has an entire website dedicated to the drugs and their experiences with taking what was prescribed. I'd suggest taking a look it's quite interesting.

jules6669mfp

Jackie9950 wrote: »

I am currently taking phentermine. My doctor prescribed it to me for 2 months. I had a BMI over 40 and I was told I had hepatic stenosis or "fatty liver".

I did notice that in the beginning (the first week) I felt like I was on speed. My heart would pound and I was running around like a crazy person. I also had trouble sleeping the first 3 nights. My doctor warned me that this would happen, but wear off. And it did after about a week. I am on my 4th week taking it, and I have little to no side effects, in fact I have a perfectly normal appetite. I eat 3-4 times a day, exercise 6 days a week. This pill is not a miracle pill by any means. I feel like it helped me get through the beginning phase where I reduced my calories and cut out all the crap food. I know myself enough, that in the beginning if I stumbled or didn't lose weight, I would have acted like a toddler and through a fit and then binged. I know that despicable fact about myself. Now that I am past that phase and I am adapted to eating healthier foods and surprisingly like them, I have reduced the phentermine to every other day and then within the next 2 weeks I will stop taking them.

I think the pills have gotten a bad rap, much like pit-bulls have. People have abused them and horrible things have happened and now everyone thinks they are evil. This drug isn't meant to be on more than 6 months and it is not to be your way of losing weight by any means. I guess I used it as a way to flush my system of all the crap food I felt I wanted at all times.

People will say that phentermine is hard on your body. It might be, but obesity was hard on mine. Phentermine did not hurt me in anyway because I use it properly and I have changed my lifestyle.

Good luck!

I'd like to hear from you after being off them for over 6 months. I've taken them in the past and sure I took off the weight but always put it back on plus some. I didn't eat healthy, lived off of coffee, soda and salads. Several friends had same happen to them. But, maybe you'll do better than us. Time will tell. As long as your doctor is monitoring you and isn't a "doctor" who only prescribes these sort of meds, you should be ok. Though I don't believe they are good for anyone with lots of dangerous side effects, ultimately it's your choice.

Jackie9950

jules6669mfp wrote: »

Jackie9950 wrote: »

I am currently taking phentermine. My doctor prescribed it to me for 2 months. I had a BMI over 40 and I was told I had hepatic stenosis or "fatty liver".

I did notice that in the beginning (the first week) I felt like I was on speed. My heart would pound and I was running around like a crazy person. I also had trouble sleeping the first 3 nights. My doctor warned me that this would happen, but wear off. And it did after about a week. I am on my 4th week taking it, and I have little to no side effects, in fact I have a perfectly normal appetite. I eat 3-4 times a day, exercise 6 days a week. This pill is not a miracle pill by any means. I feel like it helped me get through the beginning phase where I reduced my calories and cut out all the crap food. I know myself enough, that in the beginning if I stumbled or didn't lose weight, I would have acted like a toddler and through a fit and then binged. I know that despicable fact about myself. Now that I am past that phase and I am adapted to eating healthier foods and surprisingly like them, I have reduced the phentermine to every other day and then within the next 2 weeks I will stop taking them.

I think the pills have gotten a bad rap, much like pit-bulls have. People have abused them and horrible things have happened and now everyone thinks they are evil. This drug isn't meant to be on more than 6 months and it is not to be your way of losing weight by any means. I guess I used it as a way to flush my system of all the crap food I felt I wanted at all times.

People will say that phentermine is hard on your body. It might be, but obesity was hard on mine. Phentermine did not hurt me in anyway because I use it properly and I have changed my lifestyle.

Good luck!

I'd like to hear from you after being off them for over 6 months. I've taken them in the past and sure I took off the weight but always put it back on plus some. I didn't eat healthy, lived off of coffee, soda and salads. Several friends had same happen to them. But, maybe you'll do better than us. Time will tell. As long as your doctor is monitoring you and isn't a "doctor" who only prescribes these sort of meds, you should be ok. Though I don't believe they are good for anyone with lots of dangerous side effects, ultimately it's your choice.

Honestly, every medication has a laundry list of side effects. I think the big factor here is, like you said, you didn't change your eating habits. I changed my eating habits 1 month before I started the Adipex, which was recommended by my doctor (which is not just an adipex pusher, he has been my primary care physician since I was a kiddo). I slip up every once in a while and eat crap just like anyone else, but I know that I need to jump right back into making better decisions, and I do. I am very proud of the fact that I have completely stopped drinking soda. I'm fine just drinking water (sometimes with crystal light). I never had a taste for coffee and I went cold turkey from my sweet tea addiction. I try to make a huge effort eating healthy foods. This isn't a fad trend diet for me. I take this pill with a very big dose of reality, which might be why I think I will be fine.
I don't see Adipex as a cure-all for my obesity, I see it as a small step in making changes. Any doctor who puts you on the medication will tell you, it's not forever, and you MUST change your lifestyle. So if I go off the medication and put back on the weight "plus some", that's on me, the only way that would happen is if I went back to eating unhealthy and quit logging and exercising. People who have stumbled or fallen are quick to blame anything but themselves, but like all the Adipex-haters say "Calories in, calories out, and move your body" If I continue to do that, I don't see an issue. I could be wrong, who knows, but that's the plan!

Sam_Tastic_1

My mom lost weight using Phentermine. I tried to take it to help with my appetite but it made me feel really sick and I couldn't sleep. I stopped taking it and just count calories and walk a little extra each day.
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lag923

Hi everyone, I've been on Phentermine with B12/fat burner injections to accelerate my weight loss since 3/19 so It's been a little over a month. Total weight loss is 9 pounds in a month. Although I will take any weight loss I get, my expectations before I began the program was to lose about 15-20 pounds since I read other users of phentermine lost that amount in a month.

In terms of exercise, I do kickboxing (die hard Tae Bo fan) jog/walk at least 45 min for at least 4 days a week. I take my body measurements as well and I did lose inches so I would recommend tracking your body measurements in addition to weighing in.

I was given a meal plan of calorie intake of 1000-1200 calories per day consisting of whole wheat, fish, turkey, chicken, lean red meat, fruits, veggies and omit sugar (sugar substitute okay) alcohol, all junk food and don't eat past 7pm. I did cheat on the weekends so I think that may have prevented me from losing more weight. Also, I noticed that when I drank a lot of water, I saw great results on the scale.

In terms of side effects, the common side effect I get is dry mouth. The first 2 days, I was sweating a lot (went away after that) and I got dizzy one day as I tried to get out of bed . My side effects are mild and tolerable for me.
Also, I need to mention that my Phentermine wears off around 4pm (I take 30 mg time capsules once a day at 9am) so not sure if the wearing off is normal.

I will try another round of Phentermine and crossing my fingers that the next month will be a success.

Bellodesiderare

This post makes my heart ache. I took phentermine and lost 64 lbs in a matter of about 6 months. I didn't learn a thing. I gained it all back, plus some. It was devastating. I loved phentermine when I was taking it...I mean, why not? I had Wonder Woman energy, the weight was falling off, and I was never hungry. Phentermine was a very harsh learning experience for me; I hope it isn't the same for you, OP.