Phentermine (By mouth)
FEN-ter-meen
Helps you lose weight when used for a short time.
Drug classes
Appetite Suppressant, Centrally Acting (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Phentermine is used as part of a short-term plan, along with a low calorie diet, for weight reduction. It is used in obese patients who have not been able to lose weight with diet and exercise alone. Phentermine belongs to the group of medicines known as appetite suppressants.
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Dissolving Tablet, Capsule, Long Acting Capsule, Tablet, Dissolving Tablet
Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.
This medicine is not for long-term use.
To avoid trouble sleeping, always take this medicine in the morning and never at bedtime or late in the evening.
Take the tablet before breakfast or 1 to 2 hours after breakfast. Take the disintegrating tablet in the morning, with or without food. Take the capsule 2 hours after breakfast. Take the extended-release capsule before breakfast.Swallow the extended-release capsule whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.
If you are using the disintegrating tablet, make sure your hands are dry before you handle the tablet. Place the tablet on your tongue. It should melt quickly. After the tablet has melted, swallow or take a drink of water.
Carefully follow your doctor’s instructions about any special diet.
If a dose is missed:
Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Make sure your doctor knows if you also use amphetamines (such as dextroamphetamine, methamphetamine, Dexedrine®, Desoxyn®) or other diet pills. Tell your doctor if you use insulin or diabetes medicine that you take by mouth (such as glimepiride, glipizide, glyburide, metformin, Actos®, Actoplus Met®, Janumet®, Januvia®, Prandin®) or medicine for depression (such as fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, Luvox®, Paxil®, Prozac®, Zoloft®).
Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.
When Not To Use
Do not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to phentermine or similar medicines (such as adrenaline, amphetamine, dopamine, dobutamine, ephedrine, or lisdexamfetamine). Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not use this medicine if you are normally nervous and tense or if you have glaucoma, an overactive thyroid, heart or blood vessel disease, heart rhythm problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or a history of stroke or drug abuse. Do not use this medicine if you also take an MAO inhibitor (MAOI), such as isocarboxazid, phenelzine, selegiline, tranylcypromine, Eldepryl®, Marplan®, Nardil®, or Parnate®, or if you have taken an MAOI within the past 14 days.
Warnings
It is not safe to take this medicine during pregnancy. It could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.
Make sure your doctor knows if you have kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to tartrazine or aspirin.
Check with your doctor right away if you develop shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, or swelling of the lower legs, ankles, or feet. These may be symptoms of a serious lung disease.
This medicine can be habit-forming. Do not use more than your prescribed dose. Call your doctor if you think your medicine is not working.
Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.
This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
This medicine may affect blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes. Check with your doctor if you have any questions.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Fast, slow, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
Severe headache
Shortness of breath
Swelling of your feet or lower legs
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Changes in sex drive
Dizziness, drowsiness, mild headache
Dry mouth or a bad taste in your mouth
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach cramps
Restlessness or nervousness
Trouble sleeping
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Adipex, Adipex-P, Atti-Plex P, Fastin, Ionamin, Phentercot, Phentride, Pro-Fast, Suprenza
There may be other brand names for this medicine.