The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the drug phentermine as an appetite suppressant for obese patients whose weight has increased their medical risks. Here are some strategies in using phentermine to shed pounds.
How and When to Take Phentermine
Physicians will usually require those seeking a prescription for phentermine to attempt at least six months of lifestyle alteration. The changes could include lessening life's stresses, getting adequate sleep, altering diet and adopting an exercise regimen.
If your doctor prescribes phentermine, first and foremost, follow the instructions that he gives you. Do not increase the dosage or take phentermine for a longer period of time than recommended.
Phentermine is a stimulant that suppresses appetite. Physicians recommend taking the drug after you wake up and before eating anything. If you forget to take phentermine after waking up, take the dosage at least 10 hours before you go back to sleep.
Taking phentermine too close to your bedtime can cause difficulty in sleeping.
Do not take phentermine with alcoholic beverages and avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while on phentermine. Alcohol can increase the side effects of the drug, and can also affect your ability to think clearly and slow your reactions.
How Much Phentermine to Take
The normal dosage for adults under 60 taking capsules or tablets is 15 to 37.5 milligrams a day. Adults over 60 usually require reduced dosages. Phentermine is not recommended for anyone under 16.
If after taking phentermine for a few weeks you feel that you are not benefiting, talk to your doctor about adjusting the dosage. Do not increase the dosage by yourself, either by taking more pills at once, or by taking the prescribed dosage more than once per day. If you take too much phentermine by accident, call 911 or a poison control center.
As phentermine is a time-released medication, swallow the pill whole so that your body can digest it properly and release the medicine over time for maximum effectiveness. Crushing the pill or grinding it up will cause your body to absorb too much phentermine at one time.
Phentermine has many side effects, many of which stop with continued use of the drug. However, taking high doses of phentermine for a long period might lead to insomnia, irritability, skin conditions and personality changes. Because of the associated health risks and phentermine's possible addictive properties, doctors only recommend taking phentermine for a few months at a time.
A number of other drugs can also interact poorly with phentermine, including medicines used to treat high blood pressure, diabetes and antidepressants. Inform your doctor if you take any drugs used to treat those conditions.
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