Phentermine to jump start weight loss under Dr.s supervision

I've had the good fortune of maintaining a 45 lb weight loss as the result of a Nissen - an operation to correct my hiatal hernia - for almost 5 years. I did that by recording what I ate and exercise. Recently I decided to try to re-set my setpoint again. I keep my goals modest: With a current BMI of 42, I've decided getting to <40 seems like it might be doable. (Being under 40 may keep me from the worst effects of obesity, according to the research.)

I've been on the 15 mg capsule for three weeks, and I agree that it is somewhat helpful in curbing appetite: I don't crave carbs and can typically get through the afternoons without snacking on sweets. I have my calorie level set so that I lose only 1/2 lb/week and this is fine with me - again, modest. I truly believe weight loss and weight loss maintenance is a longterm (read lifelong!) process of experimentation and learning. Hopefully Phentermine will assist me with this, but I know that most of the effort is still mine. Good luck to everyone else. Be gentle with yourself!

I took Phentermine back when it was phen/fen and did great. I lost 80 pounds and kept it all off until I got pregnant with my first child. Then after I was done breastfeeding her, I was pregnant with my second. I tried lots of different things but had all kinds of excuses for not losing weight. It's only now, at 45 years old, that I get up at 4am every morning to go to the gym for 45 minutes. My doctor has put me back on Phentermine to try and get these 50-60 pounds off. I am not looking to be skinny ... just lose enough weight where I'm comfortable in my own skin and healthy and active. I do not have any of the bad side effects except the trouble sleeping at night, which is cured with a melatonin before bed. My alarm goes off at 3:50 to get up to go to the gym and I actually GET UP and GO to the gym!! I feel WONDERFUL. I take a half in the morning and a half at lunch time. I can drink coffee, diet coke, etc. and it doesn't affect me. I've had all my blood work done and all of the tests came back perfect. I don't feel "euphoric" but I definitely feel BETTER. Easy to focus, NOT grumpy, NOT edgy, very motivated and a whirlwind in getting everything done at work. Granted, this is NOT for everyone and if you do not make changes that you can ADHERE TO after you're off of the Phentermine then yes, you will gain the weight back. I am well aware of what causes the weight and know the diet that I have to follow. I know that I have to exercise. These are things that I KNEW back then but honestly just felt I was young and stupid and had the world by the tail and figured this was a magic pill. LOL. I know better know and can take the Phentermine as a tool to jump start this journey for me.

What about Qnexa, the new phentermine/topamax combo drug? I've never taken phentermine but topamax is great. I took it for about 3 months for migraines, I lost 40 pounds and completely kicked my diet coke addiction. Topamax changes the taste of things and at least for me, made diet pop tastes terrible.

If you are seeing a doctor and he/she takes the necessary precautions such as doing blood work and checking your heart and blood pressure before prescribing it, then i feel that it is ok. I just wish that people would understand the reason that they are gaining weight after the pill is because they do no maintenance! Someone who has always been able to maintain a thinner build can usually very easily lose the weight they gain for whatever reason they gain just by changing eating habits and exercising. However, someone like me who has been overweight since i was a child-it's not that simple.

I don't care what anyone says, but your genetic makeup has much to do with it! The doctor i go to performs blood work on patients so that he knows if phentermine is the right medication even if they are obese, if it is not right for them, he takes another route. I have been exercising since middle school and i eat the healthiest out of everyone in my family and my skinny friends yet, i was not able to lose a considerable amount of weight until i started on phentermine. While on it, you are supposed to work on your eating habits such as portion control and making healthy choices.

I lost 60 pounds my first time around and i am back on it to lose more. After i stopped i gained a couple of pounds but that is expected after anyone loses a substantial amount of weight. I started my weight loss journey at 284 pounds and i am now 232 and i am only 5'3 so i will continue to do this, eat right, and workout.. I also did weight watchers before i started the phentermine which was very helpful because it showed me what portion size and calories look like as opposed to what we sometimes think. I hate when people come on here and say "just eat right and workout" maybe that works for you and if it does that is awesome but as i said before, under doctor supervision i think a medication can be helpful. I did not experience heart palpitations nor dizziness while taking it and i believe everyone will respond differently to it.

It is about developing healthy habits in the process and if a person can't do that then they should not take phentermine because yes the weight will come back on. It is not an easy way out because some people struggle losing weight while on phentermine so that is not the issue.

I started taking this about a month ago and have lost 18 of the 60 pounds my doctor and I decided I needed to lose. I love it. I have had only a few side effects which really are good ones: my scalp crawls a little if I don't eat and my mouth gets dry if I am not drinking my water like I should. No racing heart. No nausea. No hyper-ness. For the first time in a long time, I feel in control of my weight and food and eating are not my primary focus. I use MFP to keep my calories between 1200-1400 and I walk. As you all know, sometimes just getting started is the hardest part. This med is what that is intended to do.

For all you naysayers, you aren't me. I made this choice and it is working for me. I've tried every diet in the world at one point or the other. Never have I felt this in control. I am a stress eater. I love to cook. I work 80+ hours a week sometimes. In addition to that, I make cakes on the side. I have a large family that gathers around a good meal oftentimes. We are from the south after all:) I have just gone through menopause. This is just the perfect storm for weight gain. I couldn't do it on my own. I know that because I know ME.

And for all those considering this med, don't let others negativity stop you from considering this option. I was ashamed I guess to ask for this. My GP and OBGYN both refused to even consider it (they both were women who weighed @100 pounds each). Their advice: "just eat healthy and exercise". Well, if I could do that, I wouldn't be here subjecting myself to your disgusted looks. Thankfully, I found a physician who specializes in weight loss who is following my progress very closely. I feel like a new person with just this small amount of weight loss. I have energy, enthusiasm, confidence. I can breathe! My clothes fit better. My aches and pains have disappeared. I am happy and healthy. You can't put a value on those changes.

STOP taking this crap. It will kill you.

Just curious, have cases of this med killing people actually been reported?

I have a question for those taking Phentermine. I have just recently started taking it on day 3 actually. I feel great in the morning and by 4:00 I am extremely tired and can barely stay awake. I take it in the morning with breakfast. Is there a better way to be doing this or am I doing something wrong to be so tired by mid day?? Thanks!

I have just started Qsymia which is a combo of phenteramine and topomax. I would like to meet others on prescription aided weight loss plans. I am working with a doctor and dietician. I haven't noticed much yet, I still get hungry, but my mouth is really dry. I do have some weight related health conditions that I am hoping will improve with diet and exercise.

Is Phentermine by prescription only I cant find a doctor who prescribes it

<shrugs> I took phentermine, too. Like most, it suppressed my appetite to the point where I was forcing myself to eat 1000-1200 calories per day. And like most, once I stopped taking it and my eating patterns returned to normal, I regained all of it, plus a bit extra.

I took my 30-day Rx, and broke each pill in half, and took it for 60 days, instead of 30. I lost about 35lbs...maybe if I had been on MFP then, and had developed better eating habits and exercise support (read: got my tail kicked for missing a gym day) I might have been able to keep it off once I stopped taking it.

Other than a bit of dry mouth (making me drink water, which isn't a bad thing) I didn't have any side-effects to speak of. The first day or two when I took a whole pill and really didn't eat anything, I did get headaches and was tired, but that corrected itself when I dropped to a half dose.