Phentermine

mean_and_lean

ogmomma2012 wrote: »

I am currently taking Phentermine, though I really didn't like the idea. The reason I accepted it is because my doctor suggested it. I didn't go to a weightloss clinic. We don't have genetic heart anomalies in my family, and this should be very temporary.

Doctors don't always do what is best for their patients. They do what is best for their pockets. I'm sure they're getting a kick back from the pharmaceutical company for prescribing Phentermine.

mean_and_lean

CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »

I wish they would take a lot of products off the shelves but since the FDA doesnt regulate a lot of things,its not going to happen unless more people step up about what its done to their health or family members health,or enough people die from it. sad but true

The FDA is the most corrupt organization out there! Sure they regulate. They regulate drugs that cause damage to you. Have you ever listened to the ads for drugs that are out there? "Fatal events may occur"? And yet the FDA approved these drug to be on the market. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't they also approve Phen-fen? Clearly the FDA cares about people.

blues4miles

mean_and_lean wrote: »

CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »

I wish they would take a lot of products off the shelves but since the FDA doesnt regulate a lot of things,its not going to happen unless more people step up about what its done to their health or family members health,or enough people die from it. sad but true

The FDA is the most corrupt organization out there! Sure they regulate. They regulate drugs that cause damage to you. Have you ever listened to the ads for drugs that are out there? "Fatal events may occur"? And yet the FDA approved these drug to be on the market. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't they also approve Phen-fen? Clearly the FDA cares about people.

My understanding is if during a drug trial it is known that the drug caused the death of someone they will not approve the drug. When they say fatal events may occur it means someone died during the trial and while they don't attribute it to the drug they can't rule out some combination of events which might have included the drug as a contributing factor.

There is for sure a lot of shady stuff going on with drug trials, but I'm not sure we should be so quick to blame the FDA. With all the anti-regulation/anti-government/anti-funding going on combined with the continual merging of the big pharmaceutical companies and their gaining in power and lobbying influence it's a wonder the FDA can marginally do its job. I'd blame congress.

Junebuggyzy

I feel really sad that you have had such horrible side effects. I am lucky that I don't get side effects at all. But for me Phentermine is definitely a psychological addiction like Q said.

The FDA has been lobbied by Big Pharma to recently let a lot of diet pills on the market that have not been thoroughly tested for side effects.

But phentermine has been around for years and years. The doctors are aware that it may cause heart problems. The ethical doctors are careful who they give it to. I get an EKG regularly when I am taking Phentermine. My doctor takes my blood pressure every month to make sure I can still take it.

Junebuggyzy

MKEgal wrote: »

Sorry to hear about your health issues.
It's worrisome that the doctor didn't understand that the fen/phen combination causes serious problems.
(Or, as someone else has already said, you got it before the problems were understood.)

I've used phentermine, until it reset my hunger to (what my doctor tells me is) a normal level,
and I got used to eating normal-sized portions.
No problems of any kind.
And if I could have simply used willpower to overcome the hunger, i would have done it long ago.

I don't know of many people who would tell someone suffering from constant pain that they should just
think themselves pain-free, or suck it up & deal with the pain, because using tylenol or morphine means
they're weak... but that's exactly what most people do when the discussion turns to appetite suppressants
&/or antidepressants. Hunger is a type of pain. Depression causes all sorts of pains.

MKEgal, you make so much sense. From us being supportive friends here for quite awhile, I know how level headed you are.

LettingTheSmallStuffGo

I used to take over the counter weight loss pills but when I heard the news on what this drug was doing to people I quit. It's just not worth it. While a pill may help you get the pounds off quick, you actually aren't doing yourself any favors because you're not learning self control.

ninerbuff

itschanelle wrote: »

I have seen a lot of posts on and off about this and other weight loss drugs. I can vouch that they absolutely work. I have lost a lot weight using Phentermine on and off throughout about a 10 year span.

BUT...

The weight doesn't stay off. And those side effects? They are real.

You could take Phentermine and lose the weight, but you might end up like me. I'm 30 years old, slightly over weight, and have moderate tricuspid valve regurgitation. As in, I might need open heart surgery because my heart was damaged by Phentermine. To be clear, I never took it for more than a few months at a time, was monitored by a doctor, and did everything "right".

My lifespan has likely been shortened to lose a few pounds. Weight I could have lost on my own with a little bit of gumption. It wasn't worth it.

Thank you for sharing. It always baffles me when people will overly protect cars, homes, children, clothes, etc., but are willing to risk possible health issues for 5-10lbs!!!! That's crazy huh? But vanity seems to have no limit. Hopefully your story reaches some who are willing to take phentermine just to lose a few vanity pounds.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

ninerbuff

ogmomma2012 wrote: »

I am currently taking Phentermine, though I really didn't like the idea. The reason I accepted it is because my doctor suggested it. I didn't go to a weightloss clinic. We don't have genetic heart anomalies in my family, and this should be very temporary.

You're doctor CAN'T force you to go on it. Get off it now and learn a practical way to lose weight calorie counting.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

ninerbuff

bellabonbons wrote: »

Phentermine got into trouble when combined with Fenfluramine causing potentially fatal pulmonary hypertension and heart valve problems. Phentermine was not shown to have harmful effects when taken alone.

Pretty bold statement because ANY science organization will agree that ALL drugs have side effects however small or not.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

ninerbuff

Junebuggyzy wrote: »

I feel really sad that you have had such horrible side effects. I am lucky that I don't get side effects at all. But for me Phentermine is definitely a psychological addiction like Q said.

The FDA has been lobbied by Big Pharma to recently let a lot of diet pills on the market that have not been thoroughly tested for side effects.

But phentermine has been around for years and years. The doctors are aware that it may cause heart problems. The ethical doctors are careful who they give it to. I get an EKG regularly when I am taking Phentermine. My doctor takes my blood pressure every month to make sure I can still take it.

Unfortunately, it make take some years of constant use to get symptoms. All the while you're thinking it's "safe".


A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

SoLongAndThanksForAllTheFish

Junebuggyzy wrote: »

MKEgal wrote: »

Sorry to hear about your health issues.
It's worrisome that the doctor didn't understand that the fen/phen combination causes serious problems.
(Or, as someone else has already said, you got it before the problems were understood.)

I've used phentermine, until it reset my hunger to (what my doctor tells me is) a normal level,
and I got used to eating normal-sized portions.
No problems of any kind.
And if I could have simply used willpower to overcome the hunger, i would have done it long ago.

I don't know of many people who would tell someone suffering from constant pain that they should just
think themselves pain-free, or suck it up & deal with the pain, because using tylenol or morphine means
they're weak... but that's exactly what most people do when the discussion turns to appetite suppressants
&/or antidepressants. Hunger is a type of pain. Depression causes all sorts of pains.

MKEgal, you make so much sense. From us being supportive friends here for quite awhile, I know how level headed you are.

Except both MKEgal and apparently you responded without reading, since she clearly stated several times now she did not take the combo of the two drugs. So no, its not a response that makes much sense. The phentermine drug alone can cause heart problems, and many other problems, read up on it, or read the responses others have listed the possible problems with it.

A drug can cause injury to health at any level (which people have varying degrees of resistance and recovery ability to), kill some, and yet still "help" some others all at the same time. It is no contradiction, though some have a hard time conceptualizing this.