Phentermine 37.5

mattschwartz01

What the hell is wrong with al of these Doctors giving ADDICTIVE drugs out for weight loss? Eat less, move more= lose weight. Period. Take a pill, don't change your habits, damage your heart...a vital organ, stop pill, regain weight = need cardiologist now? Hmmm. shame on modern medicine for this blunder. Your heart is way to important, you can't fix that or change it once its damaged. Oh yeah and if you want to mix this pill with another like Redux to boost your weight loss even further you can add Pulmonary Hypertension, a NON reversible debilitating lung disease to the list. Nice....

I sometimes privately wonder if doctors get "incentives" for prescribing drugs. I know Big Pharma has little interest in cures because cures don't mean profit. Sick people means a lot of money for Big Pharma.

fayeonherway

Quick question... Some of the responses that have mentioned taking the pill, also mentioned they had to make a life style change too. They had to exercise and watch calories. If this is case then why wouldn't you just make the lifestyle change? Side effects will be fat loss, maybe some muscle gain and sustaining your health. Versus:

feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
chest pain, feeling like you might pass out;
swelling in your ankles or feet;
pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
confusion or irritability, unusual thoughts or behavior;
feelings of extreme happiness or sadness; or
dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Just food for thought...

Imigen04

I had tried just the lifestyle change only problem was I still couldn't lose the constant hunger and never feeling full and this med has helped me.. And personally I haven't really had any side affects accept being thirsty for water but before I started taking the pill I was never thirsty

mattschwartz01

Quick question... Some of the responses that have mentioned taking the pill, also mentioned they had to make a life style change too. They had to exercise and watch calories. If this is case then why wouldn't you just make the lifestyle change? Side effects will be fat loss, maybe some muscle gain and sustaining your health. Versus:

feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
chest pain, feeling like you might pass out;
swelling in your ankles or feet;
pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
confusion or irritability, unusual thoughts or behavior;
feelings of extreme happiness or sadness; or
dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Just food for thought...

Agreed! Those potential side effects aren't worth it. What's the point of trying to get healthy if the methods you are taking to get there end up being detrimental?

ktliu

I'm currently on this drug. but I had the script, filled it and didn't touch it for 9 mths to a year, cause everybody said you will gain it all back. So what I did was a to learn to eat for that year, learn to really appreciate vegetable. and not being able to function without large amount of veges. And this January I decided to break open the bottle and try it, I broke the pill off into halves and tried it. And it was good, I didn't need to eat. I will still eat because I know I need it to function. lost a couple of lbs, and then I'd increase the dosage and the took that whole pill all at once. That was crazy, heart palpitation, Lazer focus, I pound out a 10 page proposal in that 3 hours. then I see how this stuff can be addictive.

Armed with that knowledge, I cut it at the 25/75 mark. and I took the 75% dosage. and that was just what I needed. I'd have this amazing energy. and the urge to go work out, and I've not look back since. I'd log an average of 600 calories workout days to 1500 calories per day, in the past 70 days or so I took 2 rest days off only. and today I've lost 23 lbs. I 'd also log in (eating my calories back ) net only around 900 calories daily, not because I don't want to eat, I'd have very healthy appetite. I just eat differently. My log is public. feel free to take a look at it.

So the trick is to not to get that "high". and make yourself dependant on that drug. so I'd suggest experiment with that dosage, don't take the whole pill, do halfs, do quarters...whatever makes it work.

Also MFP helps a lot in keeping me visualize my food and caloric intake. and having like minded friends helps.

Also my doc is closely monitoring me, once a mth. So far, he's cut 50% off my dosage on my BP meds, 50% off diabetic meds. 75% off my Cholestrol meds. after 2 mths.

I started at 208 and I'm at 185 today, and I'm looking to get to 165-168 range.

In conclusion, it's a good drug that comes with it's own responsibility. It's not a miracle drug. but use properly and with understanding of good information. This stuff gave me the push I never could have done by myself. Verdict. I'd love it.

ktliu

Hunger pain was not easy to deal with when you have a big appetite.So phentermine helps And the extra energy gives me the will to work out.
As far as cardio condition, if you do a lot of cardio work, your BP will adjust down if you are fit.
if you have heart palpitation, cut off a corner or just take half a pill.

Quick question... Some of the responses that have mentioned taking the pill, also mentioned they had to make a life style change too. They had to exercise and watch calories. If this is case then why wouldn't you just make the lifestyle change? Side effects will be fat loss, maybe some muscle gain and sustaining your health. Versus:

feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
chest pain, feeling like you might pass out;
swelling in your ankles or feet;
pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
confusion or irritability, unusual thoughts or behavior;
feelings of extreme happiness or sadness; or
dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Just food for thought...

Agreed! Those potential side effects aren't worth it. What's the point of trying to get healthy if the methods you are taking to get there end up being detrimental?

CLFord79

I used it and heck yes it worked (it is speed after all!)...but it only worked temporarily and when my tolerance built up after about 6 months it stopped working and I gained all the weight back plus some. While it suppresses your appetite and gives you energy, it still won't make you get your booty up and exercise and choose healthy foods. Also, it is proven to cause heart valve damage so you have to be really careful. I am much happier now losing the "right" way and feel like what I am doing now is something I will be able to continue to do for the rest of my life. Pills are for short term use only. Also, I can tell a HUGE difference by losing it the right way vs. abusing my body with diet pills, starvation, etc. This is the first time ever in my life I am losing and haven't done anything potentially damaging to myself. It is far more rewarding and my moods and sleep habits (not to mention my skin, hair, and nails) have never been better.

I say try it if you want, you're an adult and it's your choice, but really consider the potentially dangerous side effects and remember you still have to change your habits by watching what you eat and working out if you intend to keep it off permanently! Good luck!

somanyrhoades

I don't have any personal experience with phentermine, but I am a nurse so maybe I can give you a bit of insight into what it actually is. First of all, the rules and regulations regarding this drug (at least in ohio law) require documentation of an effort on the patients part to make a lifestyle change that includes calorie counting, exercise, diet coaching etc. It should only be used in cases of morbid obesity, and it should only be used for short term use (as in a few weeks), and it is supposed to be used as an adjunct therapy, not the only therapy. It is a schedule IV narcotic, which mean that it's illegal to possess without a prescription. How does it work? It works by acting on the catecholamine group of chemicals in your brain. high levels of catecholamines in the brain supress appetite, among other things. the catecholamines include serotonin, noradrenalin, adrenalin and dopamine. These are the chemicals in your body that are responsible for the "fight or flight" response in the body when threatened, they increase heart rate, increase strength (short term i.e. that's how people have been able to lift cars of people in emergencies), dilate pupils, dry mouth, sweaty palms etc. Messing with these chemicals long term can lead to depletion of mood regulating hormones. Basically, catecholamines are the chemicals that are released when you are stressed, as in running for your life. Your body is not meant to perpetually be in that state. When you take phentermine that's what you are doing... throwing your body in a stress state that lasts as long as you continue taking the drug. You are much better off making a change in your life that will nurture your body and mind instead of temporarily destroying it. Sorry if this is hard to follow, I tried to use as little medical jargon as I could, but seriously, think about what you are putting into your body, and certainly don't do it without the supervision of a qualified doctor.

Here is a link if you want to read more about catecholamines
http://stress.about.com/od/stressmanagementglossary/g/All-About-Catecholamines.htm

and here's some research that discusses the long term effects of high catecholamine levels. this one is a heavy read.
http://www.macses.ucsf.edu/research/allostatic/catecholamine.php

somanyrhoades

Hunger pain was not easy to deal with when you have a big appetite.So phentermine helps And the extra energy gives me the will to work out.
As far as cardio condition, if you do a lot of cardio work, your BP will adjust down if you are fit.
if you have heart palpitation, cut off a corner or just take half a pill. <---- this was a quote from a previous person


Seriously? Unless you are a doctor who is actually treating this person, you should not be giving medical advice regarding the dosage of a schedule IV narcotic. Heart palpatations can be nothing or they can be something SERIOUS, which means it needs to be evaluated by a health care professional, not you. You do realize that medicine is not necesarily distributed evenly throughout a pill (if they are scored, then yes) but if you are just "cutting off a corner" it's possible that you may be getting all of the active component, or your could just be getting a corner full of buffer. Please watch what you say to people, hopefully they have the good sense to know not to take advice from some random person online. <---- this is what I had to say, for somereason I messed the quotes up.

somanyrhoades

What the hell is wrong with al of these Doctors giving ADDICTIVE drugs out for weight loss? Eat less, move more= lose weight. Period. Take a pill, don't change your habits, damage your heart...a vital organ, stop pill, regain weight = need cardiologist now? Hmmm. shame on modern medicine for this blunder. Your heart is way to important, you can't fix that or change it once its damaged. Oh yeah and if you want to mix this pill with another like Redux to boost your weight loss even further you can add Pulmonary Hypertension, a NON reversible debilitating lung disease to the list. Nice....

I sometimes privately wonder if doctors get "incentives" for prescribing drugs. I know Big Pharma has little interest in cures because cures don't mean profit. Sick people means a lot of money for Big Pharma.

Docs do get incentives for prescribing drugs. Some doctors get kickbacks from drug companies if they prescribe so much of their drug. Have you ever met a drug sales person? i've met quite a few and they will pretty much do anything to get doctors to sell their prescriptions. Plus, some doctors have ties with specific drug companies, maybe not your local doc but many of the ones teaching in medical schools or in the research field are tied in with someone somewhere.

SerenaFisher

I took phentermine when you could go online and say "I am 5'5" and weigh 300lbs" then voila an internet DR gave you a prescription.

I took the pills after my son was born in 2003, I only took them for two weeks I went from 160lbs to 140lbs in about 3 weeks. I had no appetite after I stopped taking them. Four months after my son was born I was 5'8" 115lbs. I couldn't even stomach the idea of eating, took me a year to shake my anorexia. I am sure the pills contributed to it.

My BF said I looked like a skeleton.

My suggestion? Don't do it. I always gained the weight back, it was mentally unhealthy, and it is better to change your diet not eat.
2006 I again obtained a prescription for phentermine. I did not know my weight at the end but to start I was 145lbs. I took it for about a month, I had mood swings, i made me feel excited or depressed I made myself eat something every other day. When I finally began eating again it was because the weight of my BFs arm over my ribs felt like it was crushing me.

whairigaila

I hit a low point last year and started on Phentarmines - they gave me a kick to go to the gym and curbed my appetite a lot. I took it down from 1 to 1/4 pill every other day becuase it caused me soooooo many sleep issues. I was awake into th earlier hours and couldnt stay awake until i took one the next day.

made me very jittery and yes i did lose weight - about 14lb. Gained 85% of it back within 2 months of stopping them.

As a kick start, I'd say if you are carefully monitored, for a few weeks only it would be ok. I did it so I cant really say "no dont do it".

If i had the choice again, I wouldn't do it myself purely because of the side effects.

Good luck wiht whatever you choose xx

KristyMarie88

ive been taking it for 5 weeks now and im down more than 20lbs (weigh in tomm.). It does stop you from feeling hungry all day. i get about a 2-3 hour peak of energy thats when ill get my workouts in. All in all i like it, it helps me not think about food all day and i eat when im hungry. Also, my mood has been great since taking it, i feel more alert and happy. I say try it and see how you feel about it. You can do just a weeks or a whole month. my dr recommended to atleast do it for 2 months.

ronrstaats

Tried it for about a week and took myself off it. By the end of the week I had some serious anger issues to the point of wanting to kill people. Wasn't pretty.

Johlawrence

I have been taking phentermine 37.5 for almost 4 weeks. Since I began taking them, I have lost my cravings for sugar and carbs. It has really curbed my appetite. I am counting my calories and I am trying to exercise several times a week. I want to make this a lifestyle change, with the help of the medication to get me kickstarted and going in the right direction. This drug totally pulled me out of my deep depression I had sustained through the winter (to the point of only wanting to stay in bed, even while on vacation in Key West with friends). I am really focusing on eating good things, but I do not think I am eating enough. Since beginning the pills, I have only lost 6 lbs. I figured the pounds would just come off. I have tons more energy now and motivation, and feel GREAT!!! But I just feel like I should have lost more by now. I had hoped for 10 lbs the first month. My clothes do fit better, so I know I am losing some inches...

Last summer, I had a similar experience. I logged my calories everyday on here, along with my exercise. For me, working out makes me NOT hungry. In three months time last summer, I only lost 10 lbs, working my butt off and eating super healthy, but possibly not netting enough calories.

All in all, I'd like to lose 35 pounds total, to put me in my healthy weight range (I am 5'5"...rounded up) and at a healthy BMI.

My diary is open, so please advise KINDLY. I do not want to drink protein shakes for the rest of my life. I want to eat normal foods both at home and when I go out. I want to be healthy and feel good about myself. Like I said, this is a lifestyle change for me...

Someone please tell me what I am doing wrong,

Julie_Donahue

I tried it for a couple of weeks, but I had the opposite effect. It did not give me energy or give me the jitters. I felt like a zombie. Apparently my body reacts differently.

I_Will_End_You

I had the displeasure of working with someone who was taking this, and she turned into a raging psychotic b itch. Horrible!!

deyahea573

I took phentermine 37.5 for about four weeks and I would not recommend it to anyone. The weight does come off quite fast because it's a quick fix, not meant for long term weight loss. In the four weeks I took this medication, I noticed I was having bouts of insomnia. Towards the last week and a half I was sleeping maybe about three hours per night and it was taking a toll on my health. I wasn't productive at work and needless to say I didn't have the energy to complete a full workout at the gym. Which is really ironic, since this pill is suppose to give you energy. In my opinion, no prescription pill is worth seeing the numbers on the scale go down because at the end of the day, that is not the healthiest way to lose weight. It's a lifestyle change. You have to fuel your body with healthy food and nutrients so that you can work out to see the results that will stick with you in the long run.

PrettyLittleWicked

I have taken it. I was just like you, I had a hard time losing weight and controlling what I ate so I asked, no begged, my doctor to put me on Phentermine. She finally agreed and I started taking in. I lost 10 lbs in 1 week. I stopped taking it after one week because of the side effects and anxiety that comes with taking this drug. I am a healthy 27 yr old with no pre-existing diseases or conditions. My doctor was not concerned about major side effects or long term damage but it still freaked me out. I was up at night worrying that my heart would just stop. Insomnia comes from the anxiety you feel about that this drug. I even stopped taking all my other medications including Zyrtec and birth control because I was so worried about drug interactions. I am not opposed to taking this drug to control your eating but heed my warning, this coming from a healthy individual with really nothing to worry about: THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DRUG. TAKE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Here are my tips if you decide to go against what everyone is saying, like I did.

-Use this as a real opportunity to completely change how you eat. Don't use this as an excuse not to eat at all. You need nutrition and since food will disgust you, use this time to start eating healthy foods that you wouldn't eat normally.
-Eat heart healthy foods just in case: Mixed Berries, whole wheat, oatmeal, avocados, etc.
-Monitor your blood pressure every 2 days at Walgreens for free. If it's above 120/85 or higher be VERY concerned and stop taking phentermine IMMEDIATELY. This is proof that your heart can not handle this drug.
-Just relax. Most likely, unless you have a pre exisiting condition, your heart will not just stop.

Here are some side effects I suffered that were apparently completely normal:
-Insomnia
-Exaggerated sense of self well being (being happy for no reason)
-Anxiety
-Major cognitive issues (this is the most serious one which is why I stopped taking them) I felt confused and was very forgetful. Made work very difficult. I did not like this feeling

Bottom line, this is not a drug to mess around with. Use it as a tool to completely rehaul your eating habits. This is NOT a magic drug! This isn't a fat burner, it doesn't make you lose weight, it only suppresses your appetite and honestly, if you can't control what you eat you have bigger problems that this pill will not solve. It gave me the chance to completely restructure my eating habits and not I have committed to whole foods like, eating foods that are unprocessed and whole.

Good luck but please don't say we didn't warn you.

savemama

I took it, lost 8 lbs easily... then stopped losing. The effects had worn off (after about 4-6 weeks) and I was in the same boat.

Jennifer10723

My coworker took it. She has lost 40 pounds. But, she does go to gym every day now and watches what she eats. It was what she needed to kick start her weight loss. She has heart palpitations and high heart rates in the beginning .. but after a while everything leveled out. She doesn't take it now bc she lost all the weight she wanted and has maintained it for a couple months now. But .. she still goes to the gym or walks every day.

missezwright

I have been taking it for about a month now. I didn't start MFP until two weeks ago, so I have really lost about 17 pounds now. Phentermine helps to keep me away from the bad foods. It takes away my horrible cravings I have for food that make me eat so bad. I use this opportunity to eat well and I'm hoping to make it a habit. I can actually stop eating when I feel satisfied instead of eating until I'm miserable. Along with the better eating habits it gives me a little spike in energy, so I have been exercising everyday for at least 30min to an hour. So far so good for me; however, I know everyone reacts differently. So, you may just have to try and see how it works for you. Also I noticed all side effects except for dry mouth subsides after the second week. The dry mouth makes you drink water, so to me that's a good thing lol.



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jal92475

I took phentermine for years and yes I said years. It did give me more energy and I took off a bunch of weight but I gained all of that back and more because I relied on the appetite suppression and the burst of energy for weight loss instead of adopting a healthy lifestyle.

I believe if you took them in addition to the healthy lifestyle change it might give you a boost but you can't maintain without proper diet and exercise.

amber_michelle30

I took phentermine when I hurt my back and was too scared to workout but I knew I had to lose the weight. I took it for 1 month before realizing that I can do this on my own, cravings and all. I did not want to lose a bunch of weight and when people ask how I did it say, "Oh diet pills." There is no way to say that and be proud of yourself. Not only that, but this is a short term fix AND you become dependent on it, not to mention all the s/e that come with it. No one needs it!! What everyone needs is a little umph to get their a$$es of the couch, start eating healthy and bust your *kitten* in the gym...simple as that!!

mattschwartz01

I seriously hoped this thread would just die. It seems to go against the grain of what myfitnesspal is all about.

gangstagirl625

I love them thing they can be addicting and i wish i had some now the energy level i ridiculous.

awolsey1987

I took it for a couple of days (half a pill for 3 days) and started having chest pains. It makes you thirsty all the time. I immediately stopped taking it, and have still managed to lose an additional 15 lbs in the past 6 weeks without them. My thoughts were to take them for a month or so, or on the days when I'm feeling extremely tired to just give me a boost, but it's not worth it at all. You can do it on your own. Some days are harder than others, but you just have to keep telling yourself you are worth more than something that is going to do damage to your body. I'm currently waiting for my cardiologist appointment on the 21st because the chest pains have not went away. Very scary to think something in such a small quantity could have messed my heart up so quickly. I'm not sure whats wrong but if it wasn't from the pills that would be very ironic. My advice is to start out slowly and eventually eating the right foods will come naturally and exercising will become something you crave (not phentermine) DON'T DO IT!!

Predsfan2013

I take half a pill but I always drink a gallon of water a day anyways. I have been working out 5 days a week an hour a day. I use it to help with my food intake while I am learning a new way to eat. I am under careful dr supervision and a nutritionist. Not to mention I am starting therapy soon. I am using it in a small dose as a tool and I feel a little better. I only take it every other day . It helps me with energy levels and I mentally make better food choices. I am learning it. My dr and I agreed on taking it for 6 weeks if we see no changes, I stop. Sometimes it's a mental game you play.

Hezzietiger1

Stop...eat less move more. Your welcome.

ZeroTX

I've lost about 12lbs in 3 weeks using it as a helper to stay under my calorie limit. I'm seeing the doc every 30 days, and I doubt I'll be permitted to use it beyond 90. For many, the risks of taking it in exchange for the weightloss are worth it. It's not for people who need to lose 30lbs, it's for obese people.