Phentermine Doesn't Work
Mary_Anastasia
Posts: 267 Member
-- Foreword: NOT condoning weight loss aids in substitute of exercise and diet --
Has anyone else had Phentermine NOT work at all? My doctor suggested I try it alongside my exercise and diet regimen ("Neat, I've never been Rx'd a weight loss drug before!") and while everything I read about it sounded horrible (heart palpitations, dry mouth, insomnia) because it is an amphetamine, every single thing I could find said "Yes, it works, even if you feel like crap, it will work" with the occasional "It may stop working after a couple months, take a break, and start again"
I'm about 100lbs overweight and have low resting hr (50-60) and bp (avg 105/60), and had seen a nutritionist, so the doctor tried me on it, the highest dose it comes in: 37.5mg
.....to no effect. It didn't do a dang thing, it even made me tired and seem less strung out than usual; I even took it in the evening as a test and I slept like a baby. No heart palps, no dry mouth, no energy, nothing, not a single day of effectiveness. In addition to my Hashimoto's disease and unexplained glucose spikes, this non-result took it out of my doctor and he won't see me anymore for this stuff and referred me out...
But I'm just wondering if anyone else could shed some light on it, or had the same happen to them.
Has anyone else had Phentermine NOT work at all? My doctor suggested I try it alongside my exercise and diet regimen ("Neat, I've never been Rx'd a weight loss drug before!") and while everything I read about it sounded horrible (heart palpitations, dry mouth, insomnia) because it is an amphetamine, every single thing I could find said "Yes, it works, even if you feel like crap, it will work" with the occasional "It may stop working after a couple months, take a break, and start again"
I'm about 100lbs overweight and have low resting hr (50-60) and bp (avg 105/60), and had seen a nutritionist, so the doctor tried me on it, the highest dose it comes in: 37.5mg
.....to no effect. It didn't do a dang thing, it even made me tired and seem less strung out than usual; I even took it in the evening as a test and I slept like a baby. No heart palps, no dry mouth, no energy, nothing, not a single day of effectiveness. In addition to my Hashimoto's disease and unexplained glucose spikes, this non-result took it out of my doctor and he won't see me anymore for this stuff and referred me out...But I'm just wondering if anyone else could shed some light on it, or had the same happen to them.
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I use it with great success. Never took more than half a pill. It stopped these constant hunger pangs I have always had. As soon as I was on track with logging I reduced to half a pill every other day. I did not have any side effects except one late to bed night when I took my half pill to late in the day.
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Amberonamission wrote: »I use it with great success. Never took more than half a pill. It stopped these constant hunger pangs I have always had. As soon as I was on track with logging I reduced to half a pill every other day. I did not have any side effects except one late to bed night when I took my half pill to late in the day.
See, I was taking the entire 37.5mg pill, on an empty stomach usually, and nothing. Even late in the day, like 8pm, and going to bed at 10. I had zero side effects, but no weight loss in the month I took it, my blood pressure rose to 115/70-ish, but that could have been my smoking. It was a huge let down.0 -
So you only took one pill for one day?
I've never taken Phen, just curious if it was a one day test or if nothing happened the one day and you stop taking it.0 -
Phen/Fen worked great for me. After Fen was removed from the market, I tried Phen with a few other drugs and did not get the same results. That was my last experiment with magic bullets.0
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So you only took one pill for one day?
I've never taken Phen, just curious if it was a one day test or if nothing happened the one day and you stop taking it.
No, I took it for 3 weeks out of the month prescription. My Dr called and asked how it was coming after the 3wks and I said no effect, even with more diet/exercise, it was even making me sleepy, so he didn't prescribe it again.. Meanwhile I have many friends who have lost 50+ lbs on it without exercising at all. Pretty disappointing.0 -
Hypothyroidism would blunt the clinical effects of any sympathomimetic drug.
In the case of a person with Grave's disease the first order of business should be to take enough exogenous thyroid to be clinically euthyroid.0 -
ericGold15 wrote: »Hypothyroidism would blunt the clinical effects of any sympathomimetic drug.
In the case of a person with Grave's disease the first order of business should be to take enough exogenous thyroid to be clinically euthyroid.
I do have hypothyroidism from my Hashimoto's - it's untreated because medication made my symptoms worse (I've been prescribed 4 different treatments, synthetic and natural, all made me way worse)- and I keep healthy enough to keep my antibodies low. This is another reason my GP doesn't want to deal with me and my "too weird" endocrine system
I wouldn't think that would completely null the effect of an amphetamine though. So are you saying if I found a thyroid medication that actually worked, it would help Phentermine work in tandem? 0 -
Perhaps seeing an endocrinologist is in order?0
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Check the numbers on the pill against a pill identifier and make sure the pharmacy loaded your bottle with the correct pills. Mine has done that to me. I have hypothyroidism and Phentermine worked for me for about a month.0
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kshama2001 wrote: »Perhaps seeing an endocrinologist is in order?
I was seeing an endocrinologist, I have seen many over the years, but the last was the best, she really tried with me and we tried 4 different thyroid prescriptions in one year, as well as lifestyle changes and even metformin (even though I don't have diabetes). But the last thing she told me was "you're just meant to be overweight, it's what your body has decided." Then she quit and I haven't seen one since..
One was rec'd to me by a few coworkers, though; he has great reviews online, too, and said he will see me
I'm in the process of getting all my records to his office now. 0 -
ladymisspi wrote: »Check the numbers on the pill against a pill identifier and make sure the pharmacy loaded your bottle with the correct pills. Mine has done that to me. I have hypothyroidism and Phentermine worked for me for about a month.
Yeah, the pills are right, I've had that happen to me before with previous thyroid med, and checked after a few days
It's really baffling to me. 0 -
Is phentermine different than phendimetrazine? I've used that to help me lose close to 100 pounds.0
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crabulous1 wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Perhaps seeing an endocrinologist is in order?
I was seeing an endocrinologist, I have seen many over the years, but the last was the best, she really tried with me and we tried 4 different thyroid prescriptions in one year, as well as lifestyle changes and even metformin (even though I don't have diabetes). But the last thing she told me was "you're just meant to be overweight, it's what your body has decided." Then she quit and I haven't seen one since..
One was rec'd to me by a few coworkers, though; he has great reviews online, too, and said he will see me I'm in the process of getting all my records to his office now.
It is 1) you saw a bad dr. There are bad professionals in every job.
or 2) the initial diagnosis was wrong
There are no lifestyle changes that will treat Hashimoto's, it is not a lifestyle related illness. Either you have it, and you should be medicated, or you do not.
You need an endocrinologist.
What is your current TSH and free T4? Weight gain could soon become the least of your concerns.0 -
A couple of questions, after checking your profile:
- your "weird" blood glucose results are very common in diabetics. You need an endocrinologist
- do you now or in the past follow a nutrition plan? If no, regardless of what else is wrong, you need to see a dietitian. If yes, what is your calorie goal and do you log everything you eat, using a food scale?0 -
crabulous1 wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Perhaps seeing an endocrinologist is in order?
I was seeing an endocrinologist, I have seen many over the years, but the last was the best, she really tried with me and we tried 4 different thyroid prescriptions in one year, as well as lifestyle changes and even metformin (even though I don't have diabetes). But the last thing she told me was "you're just meant to be overweight, it's what your body has decided." Then she quit and I haven't seen one since..
One was rec'd to me by a few coworkers, though; he has great reviews online, too, and said he will see me I'm in the process of getting all my records to his office now.
It is 1) you saw a bad dr. There are bad professionals in every job.
or 2) the initial diagnosis was wrong
There are no lifestyle changes that will treat Hashimoto's, it is not a lifestyle related illness. Either you have it, and you should be medicated, or you do not.
You need an endocrinologist.
What is your current TSH and free T4? Weight gain could soon become the least of your concerns.
No, there is no cure for Hashimoto's, but I generally keep my TPO (antibodies) low with good exercise and diet, which increases my immune system. There is also no treating Hashimoto's evenwith medication, which is solely for the symptoms.
The last labs I had done were a year ago (I am supposed to have them every 4months
) and my TSH was 9 (no meds), but my T4 and T3 were both also high -- this is one of the abnormalities that frustrates the endos I see, and why they think I feel better off meds than I do on meds-- though there's no explanation why all 3 levels are high; it should be impossible.
Not saying the endo was perfect, but she was the first one in 10 years with this condition who actually tried to help me first, instead of taking one look at my labs and running the other way.0 -
TheLegendaryBrandonHarris wrote: »Is phentermine different than phendimetrazine? I've used that to help me lose close to 100 pounds.
Haven't heard of it-- but I have never really looked into other weight loss drugs (I'm kinda squicky about artificial drugs). From what I just read, it appears to be very similar to Phentermine, maybe a little stronger. That's amazing you lost so much! Good job, you look great 0 -
crabulous1 wrote: »crabulous1 wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Perhaps seeing an endocrinologist is in order?
I was seeing an endocrinologist, I have seen many over the years, but the last was the best, she really tried with me and we tried 4 different thyroid prescriptions in one year, as well as lifestyle changes and even metformin (even though I don't have diabetes). But the last thing she told me was "you're just meant to be overweight, it's what your body has decided." Then she quit and I haven't seen one since..
One was rec'd to me by a few coworkers, though; he has great reviews online, too, and said he will see me I'm in the process of getting all my records to his office now.
It is 1) you saw a bad dr. There are bad professionals in every job.
or 2) the initial diagnosis was wrong
There are no lifestyle changes that will treat Hashimoto's, it is not a lifestyle related illness. Either you have it, and you should be medicated, or you do not.
You need an endocrinologist.
What is your current TSH and free T4? Weight gain could soon become the least of your concerns.
No, there is no cure for Hashimoto's, but I generally keep my TPO (antibodies) low with good exercise and diet, which increases my immune system. There is also no treating Hashimoto's evenwith medication, which is solely for the symptoms.
The last labs I had done were a year ago (I am supposed to have them every 4months ) and my TSH was 9 (no meds), but my T4 and T3 were both also high -- this is one of the abnormalities that frustrates the endos I see, and why they think I feel better off meds than I do on meds-- though there's no explanation why all 3 levels are high; it should be impossible.
Not saying the endo was perfect, but she was the first one in 10 years with this condition who actually tried to help me first, instead of taking one look at my labs and running the other way.
You cannot keep your antibodies low with exercise and eating well. Why do you have a Hashimoto diagnosis without low T4 and low antibodies?
It is very common to have high TSH and also normal T4, it is how it usually stays for years. You still take levothyroxine, to minimise the need for a future operation mainly. If you mean you have abnormally high T4, as in you are hyperhtyroid, then you should be losing weight.
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crabulous1 wrote: »crabulous1 wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Perhaps seeing an endocrinologist is in order?
I was seeing an endocrinologist, I have seen many over the years, but the last was the best, she really tried with me and we tried 4 different thyroid prescriptions in one year, as well as lifestyle changes and even metformin (even though I don't have diabetes). But the last thing she told me was "you're just meant to be overweight, it's what your body has decided." Then she quit and I haven't seen one since..
One was rec'd to me by a few coworkers, though; he has great reviews online, too, and said he will see me I'm in the process of getting all my records to his office now.
It is 1) you saw a bad dr. There are bad professionals in every job.
or 2) the initial diagnosis was wrong
There are no lifestyle changes that will treat Hashimoto's, it is not a lifestyle related illness. Either you have it, and you should be medicated, or you do not.
You need an endocrinologist.
What is your current TSH and free T4? Weight gain could soon become the least of your concerns.
No, there is no cure for Hashimoto's, but I generally keep my TPO (antibodies) low with good exercise and diet, which increases my immune system. There is also no treating Hashimoto's evenwith medication, which is solely for the symptoms.
The last labs I had done were a year ago (I am supposed to have them every 4months ) and my TSH was 9 (no meds), but my T4 and T3 were both also high -- this is one of the abnormalities that frustrates the endos I see, and why they think I feel better off meds than I do on meds-- though there's no explanation why all 3 levels are high; it should be impossible.
Not saying the endo was perfect, but she was the first one in 10 years with this condition who actually tried to help me first, instead of taking one look at my labs and running the other way.
You cannot keep your antibodies low with exercise and eating well. Why do you have a Hashimoto diagnosis without low T4 and low antibodies?
It is very common to have high TSH and also normal T4, it is how it usually stays for years. You still take levothyroxine, to minimise the need for a future operation mainly. If you mean you have abnormally high T4, as in you are hyperhtyroid, then you should be losing weight.
I have Hashimoto's because I have thyroid antibodies- that's how an autoimmune disease works: you have antibodies. If you're talking about a hypothyroidism diagnosis, which is different, I have that because of my TSH-- I used to have very low T4 and T3-- we are talking 10 years here. You shouldn't confuse the difference between Hashimoto's and general hypothyroidism. And yes, you can effectively work to lower antibody count- it will never go away, but the lower the number the better.
I took Levotyroxine a couple years, it worked well, but then made me sick. Then I was on Armour for many years, until it made me sick. I've tried since then brand name Synthroid, Tirosint, and Westhroid. As for the high TSH and high T4/T3? It should be impossible, TSH is only high when the other is low and vice versa. Last doctor theorized it may be due to a "thyroid storm" but wasn't sure what to do. All doctors agree I should be on thyroid medication, but haven't found one that doesn't make me sick and in pain.0 -
A couple of questions, after checking your profile:
- your "weird" blood glucose results are very common in diabetics. You need an endocrinologist
- do you now or in the past follow a nutrition plan? If no, regardless of what else is wrong, you need to see a dietitian. If yes, what is your calorie goal and do you log everything you eat, using a food scale?
I think maybe you missed the part where I've been seeing an endocrinologist for 10 years, and only haven't seen one for 1 year now.. My weird blood glucose results have been that way my entire life my dad was the exact same with his glucose. I don't have diabetes- My A1c is fine, and my blood glucose is 95- it spikes when I fast, which means I have to eat a small snack (even just one grape) every so often, but apparently it is not diabetes. I was even on metformin, just 500, the lowest dose, last year to try to control the spikes at night, and it made me very sick, my glucose hovered around 60 while on it. (My current Dr took me off it)
And yes, I have followed a nutrition plan in the past and do presently. In the last many years I have been gluten free, vegan, no added-sugar. None made me feel any different. Right now I am vegetarian, I don't use a food scale, but I do aim for no more 1,350 calories a day, per the nutritionist's recommendation. I go no more 40carbs per meal, and focus on low sodium/sugar. The nutritionist I was seeing asked me to stop coming, and didn't charge me for my last session because she said she couldn't help me. You really have no idea how many doctors have scratched their heads over my labs and reports!0 -
I admit I am confused on several things on your post.
Like how you can reverse an autoimmune disorder by lifestyle changes (honestly curious, definitely want the details on this), and why would you consider that hypothyroidism hinders weight loss efforts if in fact you are not clinically hypothyroid.
But to come down to the issue that is bothering you, or at least that is related to this site, get a scale. You are not weighing your food, so you are just estimating. It is very easy to underestimate calories a lot. You can gain weight on a very healthy diet, and there definitely are lots of vegetarian obese people. Especially if you have been overweight or obese since childhood, chances are your portion estimation is way off what is considered average. Get a scale and log everything you eat, without changing your current habits for a few weeks. I would bet you are underestimating what you eat by hundreds of calories. Most people are when eyeballing their food.0 -
If you are not weighing your food how are you sure you are eating under 1,350 calories a day? You cannot rely on package labeling as they are allowed a standard of error, so that package of whatever that says 210 calories may be 250 or so calories. Also, just measuring your food with measuring cups has a pretty big standard of error as well. If you are not weighing and accounting for every gram of food you eat there is really no way to really know you are eating under 1,350 calories a day.
My sister is an Endocrinologists nightmare. She has premature ovarian failure (think menopause at 23!), she has a thyroid issue and she also has pre diabetes. She has lost weight and has kept it off with no problems by simply lowering her carbs and weighing her food so she stays near 1200 calories a day. She is able to lose the weight also, because (I am sorry if this is blunt, no disrespect intended) she does not use her diagnosis as an excuse , she uses it as a motivator.0 -
I admit I am confused on several things on your post.
Like how you can reverse an autoimmune disorder by lifestyle changes (honestly curious, definitely want the details on this), and why would you consider that hypothyroidism hinders weight loss efforts if in fact you are not clinically hypothyroid.
But to come down to the issue that is bothering you, or at least that is related to this site, get a scale. You are not weighing your food, so you are just estimating. It is very easy to underestimate calories a lot. You can gain weight on a very healthy diet, and there definitely are lots of vegetarian obese people. Especially if you have been overweight or obese since childhood, chances are your portion estimation is way off what is considered average. Get a scale and log everything you eat, without changing your current habits for a few weeks. I would bet you are underestimating what you eat by hundreds of calories. Most people are when eyeballing their food.
Hashimoto's is diagnosed by presence of antibodies- which I have. I never said you can reverse an autoimmune disease- in fact I said it is incurable. You can decrease your antibodies by boosting your immune system (thereby attacking autoimmune antibodies), but you cannot cure it. Antibodies attack healthy cells because they think they are invasive. Your immune system is what fights off the antibodies. Stronger immune system will help decrease your antibodies- but no, there is NO cure, as I said.
Hypothyroidism is diagnosed by your TSH level. I have a TSH of 9 which is clinically hypothyroid. The TSH level says "This body has too little thyroid hormone" ; The T3/4 levels are what are considered an average optimal level to function the body. The fact that my T4 and T3 are in the normal range is baffling, but do not negate the diagnosis-- which again stems from the TSH level. If one is high the others must be low; like a see-saw. In my case, both sides of the see-saw are up. I have enough thyroid hormone according to the books, but my body is saying I need more.
The difference between Hashimoto's and Hypothyroidism is that Hypothyroidism is a symptom (common condition) which can be caused by Hashimoto's, or any number of things; whereas Hashimoto's cannot be caused by Hypothyroidism.
"why would you consider that hypothyroidism hinders weight loss efforts if in fact you are not clinically hypothyroid." ---> I never said it hinders it, though it's true, thought I would point out I did not say so anywhere... In fact, I have not taken my thyroid medication for the last year BECAUSE I feel better off of it than I do on it. And as discussed, I am clinically hypothyroid-- I'm getting very confused why you keep saying otherwise; but maybe your own confusion stems from what the doctors also find confusing-- that my TSH is high (hypothyroid) while my T-levels are normal. And again, one doctor suggested it might be a Thyroid Storm. Both my parents have been on Synthroid for decades, and they have never had this sort of trouble (their hypothyroidism is not caused by Hashimoto's, though-- they do not have it)
As far as a scale. I have used a scale in the past, and it turned out I was overestimating my calories. I always measure, and I always round down. Again, maybe you missed the part where I have seen a nutritionist, and kept a food diary/log for many months-- it turned out that I was overestimating my calories. As far as food knowledge goes, I could probably write a book- I have had student dieticians ask me for my advice in the last few years.
The issue that was bothering me was about Phentermine, not a food scale or my labs or anything else you've brought up.0 -
If you are not weighing your food how are you sure you are eating under 1,350 calories a day? You cannot rely on package labeling as they are allowed a standard of error, so that package of whatever that says 210 calories may be 250 or so calories. Also, just measuring your food with measuring cups has a pretty big standard of error as well. If you are not weighing and accounting for every gram of food you eat there is really no way to really know you are eating under 1,350 calories a day.
My sister is an Endocrinologists nightmare. She has premature ovarian failure (think menopause at 23!), she has a thyroid issue and she also has pre diabetes. She has lost weight and has kept it off with no problems by simply lowering her carbs and weighing her food so she stays near 1200 calories a day. She is able to lose the weight also, because (I am sorry if this is blunt, no disrespect intended) she does not use her diagnosis as an excuse , she uses it as a motivator.
As I replied to the other commenter, I did keep a food log for many months for my nutritionist, and I was overestimating my calories at the time. It's possible I underestimate them now- but some days I don't count any calories- that's not a crime, I don't need to know how many calories are in a lettuce wrap or a banana or a bowl of green beans to know it's healthier than what I would have otherwise had. 1350 is the number of calories I need to maintain. To lose weight, she suggested I go for 1000 calories. But, that is off-topic.
I've not used my diagnosis as an excuse, I'm not sure why that's even been brought up (off-topic, again), as this thread was about Phentermine. Do you have any input about the original post?0 -
crabulous1 wrote: »I admit I am confused on several things on your post.
Like how you can reverse an autoimmune disorder by lifestyle changes (honestly curious, definitely want the details on this), and why would you consider that hypothyroidism hinders weight loss efforts if in fact you are not clinically hypothyroid.
But to come down to the issue that is bothering you, or at least that is related to this site, get a scale. You are not weighing your food, so you are just estimating. It is very easy to underestimate calories a lot. You can gain weight on a very healthy diet, and there definitely are lots of vegetarian obese people. Especially if you have been overweight or obese since childhood, chances are your portion estimation is way off what is considered average. Get a scale and log everything you eat, without changing your current habits for a few weeks. I would bet you are underestimating what you eat by hundreds of calories. Most people are when eyeballing their food.
Hashimoto's is diagnosed by presence of antibodies- which I have. I never said you can reverse an autoimmune disease- in fact I said it is incurable. You can decrease your antibodies by boosting your immune system (thereby attacking autoimmune antibodies), but you cannot cure it. Antibodies attack healthy cells because they think they are invasive. Your immune system is what fights off the antibodies. Stronger immune system will help decrease your antibodies- but no, there is NO cure, as I said.
Hypothyroidism is diagnosed by your TSH level. I have a TSH of 9 which is clinically hypothyroid. The TSH level says "This body has too little thyroid hormone" ; The T3/4 levels are what are considered an average optimal level to function the body. The fact that my T4 and T3 are in the normal range is baffling, but do not negate the diagnosis-- which again stems from the TSH level. If one is high the others must be low; like a see-saw. In my case, both sides of the see-saw are up. I have enough thyroid hormone according to the books, but my body is saying I need more.
The difference between Hashimoto's and Hypothyroidism is that Hypothyroidism is a symptom (common condition) which can be caused by Hashimoto's, or any number of things; whereas Hashimoto's cannot be caused by Hypothyroidism.
"why would you consider that hypothyroidism hinders weight loss efforts if in fact you are not clinically hypothyroid." ---> I never said it hinders it, though it's true, thought I would point out I did not say so anywhere... In fact, I have not taken my thyroid medication for the last year BECAUSE I feel better off of it than I do on it. And as discussed, I am clinically hypothyroid-- I'm getting very confused why you keep saying otherwise; but maybe your own confusion stems from what the doctors also find confusing-- that my TSH is high (hypothyroid) while my T-levels are normal. And again, one doctor suggested it might be a Thyroid Storm. Both my parents have been on Synthroid for decades, and they have never had this sort of trouble (their hypothyroidism is not caused by Hashimoto's, though-- they do not have it)
As far as a scale. I have used a scale in the past, and it turned out I was overestimating my calories. I always measure, and I always round down. Again, maybe you missed the part where I have seen a nutritionist, and kept a food diary/log for many months-- it turned out that I was overestimating my calories. As far as food knowledge goes, I could probably write a book- I have had student dieticians ask me for my advice in the last few years.
The issue that was bothering me was about Phentermine, not a food scale or my labs or anything else you've brought up.
To be honest, I think you do not fully understand and this is what is the cause of your troubles. What you are experiencing is normal. It is how it starts for almost everyone: high tsh, normal t3 and t4. At this stage, you might start having symptoms as you move to the lower t4 levels, but most probably, unless you test as part of a routine check-up (because it runs in your family, because it is standard screening test in many places for adolescents, because you are pregnant etc) you will not know. You take meds to negate early symptoms, if any exist, but mostly to prevent or at least delay becoming hypothyroid and to minimise the risk of needing an operation in the future. You are not special (and I think this is a good thing) what you experience is pretty much typical. So I think there is some miscommunication between you and your drs.
On the same note, it is not possible to eat 1000 calories or 1300 calories and remain obese. It is nto a matter of having a special metabolism, it just goes against the laws of physics. If you were experiencing other symptoms, result in such loss of energy that you were pretty much constantly in bed, sleepy and unable to even maintain your body temperature, it would have been possible. For an adult who can perform normally daily activities, it is not possible. Phentermine, or any other medication, will not result in weight loss unless you are prepared to work on limiting your calories. It is nothing more than a tool to help you limit calories. If you are grossly underestimating what you eat, it will still not help.
I understand from both this post and your profile that you believe something is wrong with you that means what works for others will nto work for you. If you stay on these forums for a while, you will see many of the people who have lost successfully weight had the same belief. It was not until they accepted that some principles work for everyone, that they managed to see results.
So to answer your original question, phentermine was supposed to help you eat less. You are not eating less, because you do not believe you should be eating less, so phentermine did nothing.
You were willing to try a drug with serious associated risks. Why not try logging, with a food scale, eveythign you eat for a week? It will not have any risk.0 -
crabulous1 wrote: »-- Foreword: NOT condoning weight loss aids in substitute of exercise and diet --
Has anyone else had Phentermine NOT work at all? My doctor suggested I try it alongside my exercise and diet regimen ("Neat, I've never been Rx'd a weight loss drug before!") and while everything I read about it sounded horrible (heart palpitations, dry mouth, insomnia) because it is an amphetamine, every single thing I could find said "Yes, it works, even if you feel like crap, it will work" with the occasional "It may stop working after a couple months, take a break, and start again"
I'm about 100lbs overweight and have low resting hr (50-60) and bp (avg 105/60), and had seen a nutritionist, so the doctor tried me on it, the highest dose it comes in: 37.5mg .....to no effect. It didn't do a dang thing, it even made me tired and seem less strung out than usual; I even took it in the evening as a test and I slept like a baby. No heart palps, no dry mouth, no energy, nothing, not a single day of effectiveness. In addition to my Hashimoto's disease and unexplained glucose spikes, this non-result took it out of my doctor and he won't see me anymore for this stuff and referred me out...
But I'm just wondering if anyone else could shed some light on it, or had the same happen to them.
Any diet pill will work if you eat at a deficit, and no diet pill will work if you eat at a surplus. Therefore, when you were taking the diet pill, if your weight stayed the same you were eating at maintenance, but if you gained you were eating at a surplus.
Therefore, diet pills 100% not necessary for weight loss. 0 -
crabulous1 wrote: »I admit I am confused on several things on your post.
Like how you can reverse an autoimmune disorder by lifestyle changes (honestly curious, definitely want the details on this), and why would you consider that hypothyroidism hinders weight loss efforts if in fact you are not clinically hypothyroid.
But to come down to the issue that is bothering you, or at least that is related to this site, get a scale. You are not weighing your food, so you are just estimating. It is very easy to underestimate calories a lot. You can gain weight on a very healthy diet, and there definitely are lots of vegetarian obese people. Especially if you have been overweight or obese since childhood, chances are your portion estimation is way off what is considered average. Get a scale and log everything you eat, without changing your current habits for a few weeks. I would bet you are underestimating what you eat by hundreds of calories. Most people are when eyeballing their food.
Hashimoto's is diagnosed by presence of antibodies- which I have. I never said you can reverse an autoimmune disease- in fact I said it is incurable. You can decrease your antibodies by boosting your immune system (thereby attacking autoimmune antibodies), but you cannot cure it. Antibodies attack healthy cells because they think they are invasive. Your immune system is what fights off the antibodies. Stronger immune system will help decrease your antibodies- but no, there is NO cure, as I said.
Hypothyroidism is diagnosed by your TSH level. I have a TSH of 9 which is clinically hypothyroid. The TSH level says "This body has too little thyroid hormone" ; The T3/4 levels are what are considered an average optimal level to function the body. The fact that my T4 and T3 are in the normal range is baffling, but do not negate the diagnosis-- which again stems from the TSH level. If one is high the others must be low; like a see-saw. In my case, both sides of the see-saw are up. I have enough thyroid hormone according to the books, but my body is saying I need more.
The difference between Hashimoto's and Hypothyroidism is that Hypothyroidism is a symptom (common condition) which can be caused by Hashimoto's, or any number of things; whereas Hashimoto's cannot be caused by Hypothyroidism.
"why would you consider that hypothyroidism hinders weight loss efforts if in fact you are not clinically hypothyroid." ---> I never said it hinders it, though it's true, thought I would point out I did not say so anywhere... In fact, I have not taken my thyroid medication for the last year BECAUSE I feel better off of it than I do on it. And as discussed, I am clinically hypothyroid-- I'm getting very confused why you keep saying otherwise; but maybe your own confusion stems from what the doctors also find confusing-- that my TSH is high (hypothyroid) while my T-levels are normal. And again, one doctor suggested it might be a Thyroid Storm. Both my parents have been on Synthroid for decades, and they have never had this sort of trouble (their hypothyroidism is not caused by Hashimoto's, though-- they do not have it)
As far as a scale. I have used a scale in the past, and it turned out I was overestimating my calories. I always measure, and I always round down. Again, maybe you missed the part where I have seen a nutritionist, and kept a food diary/log for many months-- it turned out that I was overestimating my calories. As far as food knowledge goes, I could probably write a book- I have had student dieticians ask me for my advice in the last few years.
The issue that was bothering me was about Phentermine, not a food scale or my labs or anything else you've brought up.
To be honest, I think you do not fully understand and this is what is the cause of your troubles. What you are experiencing is normal. It is how it starts for almost everyone: high tsh, normal t3 and t4. At this stage, you might start having symptoms as you move to the lower t4 levels, but most probably, unless you test as part of a routine check-up (because it runs in your family, because it is standard screening test in many places for adolescents, because you are pregnant etc) you will not know. You take meds to negate early symptoms, if any exist, but mostly to prevent or at least delay becoming hypothyroid and to minimise the risk of needing an operation in the future. You are not special (and I think this is a good thing) what you experience is pretty much typical. So I think there is some miscommunication between you and your drs.
On the same note, it is not possible to eat 1000 calories or 1300 calories and remain obese. It is nto a matter of having a special metabolism, it just goes against the laws of physics. If you were experiencing other symptoms, result in such loss of energy that you were pretty much constantly in bed, sleepy and unable to even maintain your body temperature, it would have been possible. For an adult who can perform normally daily activities, it is not possible. Phentermine, or any other medication, will not result in weight loss unless you are prepared to work on limiting your calories. It is nothing more than a tool to help you limit calories. If you are grossly underestimating what you eat, it will still not help.
I understand from both this post and your profile that you believe something is wrong with you that means what works for others will nto work for you. If you stay on these forums for a while, you will see many of the people who have lost successfully weight had the same belief. It was not until they accepted that some principles work for everyone, that they managed to see results.
So to answer your original question, phentermine was supposed to help you eat less. You are not eating less, because you do not believe you should be eating less, so phentermine did nothing.
You were willing to try a drug with serious associated risks. Why not try logging, with a food scale, eveythign you eat for a week? It will not have any risk.
I think you do not fully understand that I've had this for 10 years and am not at any beginning stage of anything. My levels have changed from low to high to low to high etc over the course of many years.
Also, you seem to have ignored that I said I have seen endocrinologists for 10 years with bloodwork every 3-4 months- that it is just the last year that I have not seen one.
I think you have also missed the point where I said I have already successfully lost significant weight in the past through diet and exercise and proper medication.
You also seem to think you're a doctor, and that you know more than the 12 doctors I've seen, and consequently been turned away from, over the years.
I think you also missed where I said I have logged food with a food scale. And that the doctor and the nutritionist agreed I was overestimating my calories. It certainly is possible to be obese and only eat that few calories, if you think otherwise, you are very ignorant of biology.
Which by happenstance, the laws of physics has nothing to do with calories/energy. "If you were experiencing other symptoms" --> I guess you didn't think to ask, but would rather assume I don't? I do have a basal body temperature of 94 degrees, thanks. And I require around 13hrs of sleep, and my heart rate refuses to go over 75ish with the most intense workouts, and I am nearly nonfunctional some days from foggybrain or lethargy-- I once asked my sister the same question 3 times in a row; sometimes I forget where I'm driving to. This one time I hallucinated I was a cat. Another time I took my lunch break at work and was later found a mile away, disoriented and not aware that I had been at work-- this is called Myxedema. But good job trying to tell me none of that is true just because I force myself to have a life, oh; and that I'm eating too much, that's always nice to hear from a doctor (you are one, right?).
I won't be answering you anymore, because I think it is obvious that you are not making any sense and are trolling this post at this point.
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You are saying there is a dr somewhere on this planet who actually told you to stop taking meds while experiencing myxoedema (which by the way is not what you think it is)? You are disoriented and hallucinating, but are against artificial meds, believe laws of physics have nothing to do with energy and your problem is which pill will result in weight loss? Ok, now I understand... I am guessing so did your drs.0
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You are saying there is a dr somewhere on this planet who actually told you to stop taking meds while experiencing myxoedema (which by the way is not what you think it is)? You are disoriented and hallucinating, but are against artificial meds, believe laws of physics have nothing to do with energy and your problem is which pill will result in weight loss? Ok, now I understand... I am guessing so did your drs.
No-- as I said, my doctors were very AGAINST me stopping taking my thyroid meds. They desperately WANT me to take meds and are NOT happy that I stopped. In fact I was warned that I could go into a coma. Like I said, stop pretending you know me; you don't, and you seem to not know much about health sciences. I never asked about which pill will result in weight loss-- you keep saying things, like this, that aren't true, and, I suspect, projecting your own dissatisfaction with your body on to me through superficial, and wildly ill-informed, judgment. God bless.0 -
crabulous1 wrote: »-- Foreword: NOT condoning weight loss aids in substitute of exercise and diet --
Has anyone else had Phentermine NOT work at all? My doctor suggested I try it alongside my exercise and diet regimen ("Neat, I've never been Rx'd a weight loss drug before!") and while everything I read about it sounded horrible (heart palpitations, dry mouth, insomnia) because it is an amphetamine, every single thing I could find said "Yes, it works, even if you feel like crap, it will work" with the occasional "It may stop working after a couple months, take a break, and start again"
I'm about 100lbs overweight and have low resting hr (50-60) and bp (avg 105/60), and had seen a nutritionist, so the doctor tried me on it, the highest dose it comes in: 37.5mg .....to no effect. It didn't do a dang thing, it even made me tired and seem less strung out than usual; I even took it in the evening as a test and I slept like a baby. No heart palps, no dry mouth, no energy, nothing, not a single day of effectiveness. In addition to my Hashimoto's disease and unexplained glucose spikes, this non-result took it out of my doctor and he won't see me anymore for this stuff and referred me out...
But I'm just wondering if anyone else could shed some light on it, or had the same happen to them.
Any diet pill will work if you eat at a deficit, and no diet pill will work if you eat at a surplus. Therefore, when you were taking the diet pill, if your weight stayed the same you were eating at maintenance, but if you gained you were eating at a surplus.
Therefore, diet pills 100% not necessary for weight loss.
Yeah, I tried it recently because the doctor wanted to try something new he thought it would maybe give me some energy. You'd think an amphetamine would, but it did nothing. At least now I know that I'll never get hooked on meth! 0 -
I've tried racemic amphetamine sulphate (5 mg tablets) and Ritalin for suspected Idiopathic hypersomnia, but with no effect. I didn't feel a thing.
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