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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on May 16, 2024. How it worksUpsidesDownsidesBottom LineTipsResponse/effectivenessInteractions 1. How it works Phentermine is a central nervous stimulant that may be used to treat obesity.Experts aren't exactly sure how phentermine works but it appears to have multiple actions including stimulating neurons to release the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, which may account for its appetite-suppressing effects. Phentermine also appears to increase levels of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin by inhibiting their reuptake and inhibiting monoamine oxidase enzymes. It possibly also indirectly raises leptin levels in the brain (leptin is a hormone that tells us we feel full), and reduces the effects of neuropeptide Y - a chemical messenger that initiates eating, decreases energy expenditure, and increases fat storage.Phentermine belongs to the class of drugs known as anorectics or anorexigenics. 2. Upsides May be used short-term as an aid to weight loss in addition to exercise, behavioral modification, and caloric restriction. Recommended only for people with an initial BMI equal to, or more than, 30 kg/m2, or 27 kg/m2 with risk factors for a cardiovascular event (such as controlled high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol). 3. Downsides If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include: High blood pressure and other adverse cardiovascular effects. Restlessness, insomnia, headache, psychosis, dry mouth, rash, sexual dysfunction, an unpleasant taste, and gastrointestinal disturbances may also occur.Treatment of more than a few weeks increases the risk of addiction and dependence on phentermine. Abrupt cessation following prolonged dosing may cause a withdrawal effect (symptoms include extreme fatigue and depression). May impair judgment and affect a person's ability to drive or operate machinery. Alcohol should be avoided.Tolerance may develop to the weight-loss effects of phentermine, rendering it less effective. The dosage of phentermine should not be increased in this situation, rather the drug may need to be discontinued under medical advice. Should not be used in children aged 16 or less. The dosage of phentermine requires reduction in people with severe kidney impairment and it should be avoided in people with end-stage kidney disease. Phentermine is not suitable for people with a history of cardiovascular or valvular heart disease, glaucoma, hyperthyroidism, a history of drug abuse, who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or with agitation.May interact with several other drugs including other medications used for weight loss (including other prescribed medications, over-the-counter preparations, or herbal supplements), antidepressants, antipsychotics, antidiabetic drugs, and other central nervous system stimulants. Some interactions may be potentially fatal, such as primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), a frequently fatal lung disease that can occur if phentermine is taken with fenfluramine
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