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Why is this drug prescribed?
Phentermine is used, in combination with diet and exercise, to help you lose weight. It works by decreasing your appetite
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How should this medicine be used?
Phentermine comes in tablets and extended-release capsules. It usually is taken as a single daily dose in the morning or three times a day 30 minutes before meals. Follow the directions on your prescr
iption label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Phentermine exactly as directed.
Most people take the drug for 3-6 weeks; the length
of treatment depends on how you respond to the medication. Phentermine can be habit-forming.
To prevent side effects, Phentermine should be taken with meals. If you are taking an extended-rel
ease (long-acting) product, do not chew or crush the tablet. There are some tablets that can be crushed and mixed with food.
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Side Effects
Although side effects from Phentermine are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- dry mouth
- unpleasant taste
- diar
rhea
- constipation
- vomiting
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- increased blood pressure
- heart palpitations
-
restlessness
- dizziness
- tremor
- insomnia
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- dizziness
- swelling of the legs and ankles
- difficulty doing exercise that y
ou have been able to do
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Significant Interactions:
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of appetite suppressants. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
Alcohol abuse (or history of
) or
- Drug abuse or dependence (or history of)¡XDependence on appetite suppressants may be more likely to develop
- Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)¡XThe amount of insulin or oral antidia
tic medicine that you need to take may change
- Epilepsy¡XDiethylpropion may increase the risk of having seizures
- Family history of mental illness¡XMental depression or other mental illnes
may be more likely to occur
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Cautions
Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine does not cause unwanted effects.
If you think this medicine is not working properly after you have tak
en it for a few weeks, do not increase the dose. Instead, check with your doctor.
Do not take an appetite suppressant with or less than 14 days after taking a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibito
r. If you do, you may very suddenly develop extremely high blood pressure.
Taking a Phentermine may cause a positive result in urine screening tests for amphetamines
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Precautions Before Using This Medicine
Pregnancy¡XIf a pregnant woman takes this medicine in high doses or more often than the doctor has directed, it may cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn baby. Also, medicines similar to Phentermin
can cause birth defects in the newborn baby if a pregnant woman takes them in high doses. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
- Breast-feeding¡XDiethylpropion and benzphetamine pass into breast milk. It is not known if other Phentermine pass into breast milk. However, use of Phentermine during breast-feeding is not r
commended, because it may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies.
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