Obesity effects thousands of individuals in the US alone, and everyday stress factors, environmental pollution, and processed food options can make it near impossible for some to lose weight. With an array of diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease linked to obesity, doctors usually recommend the usual dietary recommendations and regular exercise to stay healthy. For some individuals, however, making doctor-recommended lifestyle changes are not sufficient to lose the extra pounds that can cause fatigue and general feelings of unhappiness. When diet and exercise are not enough for a patient to lose weight, one can consider using medications that help suppress appetite and lead to safe weight loss. FDA-approved phentermine is a prescription medication that can help patients lose weight when taken along with regular exercise and a well-balanced diet.
What is phentermine?
Phentermine is a psychostimulant drug that suppresses appetite, making patients who take the medication feel full to decrease the amount of food intake. In overweight patients, it can help decrease the absorption of starches and fats ingested from metabolizing through the body, thus prevent fat accumulation from occurring in patients. Available by prescription only, phentermine comes in tablet pill form, and is usually taken on an empty stomach, but it might vary depending on the brand and your specific clinical profile. In order to obtain a prescription for phentermine, you must first provide blood samples to determine any other underlying medical conditions and if your body can tolerate the medication.
Who should take phentermine?
Individuals who are overweight should measure their body mass index (BMI), along with other medical tests to determine if they’re clinically obese. Individuals who benefit the most from phentermine are those who exercise regularly and eat a well balance diet, but cannot lose or maintain a healthy weight. It is strongly advised that you do not take phentermine if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, overactive thyroid, glaucoma and a history of alcohol or drug abuse as it can cause serious complications or interactions with current medications. It is important that you disclose your full medical history and ask plenty of questions before taking phentermine.
What type of diet should be followed when taking phentermine?
Prescription phentermine alone is not guaranteed to help individuals lose weight, so a well-balanced diet is always recommended. Ensure that you drink plenty of water while taking this medication because it helps your body metabolize the active ingredient, while helping vital organs like your kidneys operate optimally. It is important to eat lean proteins like chicken or fish while following an exercise regimen on phentermine. Eating lean proteins will ensure that you lose body fat and not lean muscle throughout your weight loss journey. Along with proteins, fiber should be an important component of your diet while taking phentermine as it helps you feel full, and it helps the body digest nutrients. Foods that contain rich fiber include beans, whole grains, brown rice, nuts, berries, whole grain cereals, and leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach.
When to stop taking phentermine
The length of treatment with phentermine will vary depending on your clinical profile, but usually doctors will administer the medicine for 3-6 weeks. Your doctor should determine the length of the treatment since your body might take longer to respond to the medication to achieve the desired weight loss results. It is strongly advised that you do not take phentermine longer than prescribed by your doctor as it can lead to an array of health problems like migraines, heart problems, high blood pressure, and even eyesight problems. It is important to note that phentermine is only a tool to help kick start your weight loss journey, and it is simply not the miracle cure for obesity. Along with the assistance of your doctor, it is important to gradually reduce the amount of phentermine taken to prevent potential withdrawal side effects and addiction.
What are the signs of phentermine abuse or dependence?
Like all other prescription medications, phentermine should only be taken as directed by your doctor as it can lead to abuse or dependence. The ingredients that make up phentermine like caffeine, ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine can be highly addictive if you do not take the medication as prescribed. Due to its chemical components, phentermine can have addictive intoxication effects on the body, making it difficult for individuals to stop taking it. The withdrawal effects of phentermine usually affect patients through symptoms like depression, headaches, high blood pressure, diarrhea, flatulence, stomach pain, vomiting, insomnia, memory loss, heart palpitations, congestive heart failure, tremors and seizures. If you suspect that you have developed dependence to phentermine, it is important that you seek the assistance of a physician to help safely detoxify the body.
