Phentermine and fibro

Hi all y'all,  I really would like to hear back and see if anyone out there has had the same experience?

Two totally unrelated issues (I think)...fibromyalgia and uncontrollable hunger.  I live my life, and have for years, in a fibro fog.  I hurt...I ache, and things just hurt to touch me.  On top of that, I don't sleep without meds and with or without those...I'm groggy and 'icky' all day long.  I feel 'normal' for a little while each afternoon/early evening...maybe for 1 or 2 hours.  Then it's back to the fatigue with the weird 'white sound' pain/feeling up the back of my head.  I've been on muscle relaxers, anti-depressants...I forget what-all they've drugged me with over the years.  For a while, the flexeril and what-have-you did alleviate the pain, but I was a walking zombie struggling to exist.  So, I went off of the meds.  And now let's fast-forward to my latest (?!?  5 years...rny RNY never did curb it for me) issue...my hunger.  This isn't head-hunger...this is all-out stomach-growling, knotting up, clenching, heaving wanting to puke hunger.  And it happens within an hour of eating.  My surgeon (UC Davis...they're awfully busy...) says "We don't do revisions."  And that's the end of that.  I tried Welbutrin, Meridia...even paid $500 to buy Accomplia at a doc's 'suggestion' from a UK 'doctor'.   Nothing.  But then in desperation, I begged my PCP to try phentermine to curb the hunger so that I could function...and he agreed (kind-of).  And you know what?  Not only did it initially curb my hunger, but it totally helped the fibro fatigue.  It's a stimulant.  And it can cause it's own problems.  But for the first time since I was 14 (I'm 41 now...you do the math), I felt like I could participate normally in life.  I FELT good!  So I told my PCP this at one of my drive-by 2-month phen check-ups.  He said "oh.  That's a controlled substance.  If you still want help with your fibro, let's look into the 'new' fibro drugs out there."  Yes...the ones that have a list of side-effects longer than a city block.  I said "but doc...I FINALLY found something that works...on a couple of levels.  Why can't we stick with this?"  No real answer...probably fear of malpractice? 

And this got really long...

What I'd like to know is:  Have any of you tried phen (for whatever reason) and has it helped the fibro fatigue for you too?  If so, what dosage/pill/length of time are you prescribed for?  Now that I've had the 'tease' of normalcy, I want it back but scaredy-doc won't presribe a full-course for longer than 2 months.  If a doc is prescribing phen for you, I'd like to know the details to provide to my PCP...

Thanks!  Cyn

A doctor here than is considered the "phen" doctor will prescribe it BUT he will only do it one month at a time and you have to come in do a weight check and BP check.  If those look good, he will give you another month.

So you're saying that he does specifically prescribe it for fibro patients, but that they can only do 1 month at a time?

thanks,
Cyn

He does it for everyone that is over weight if they ask for it and blood pressure is not really bad, but he does it only one month at a time.

    I took phentermine before I had WLS.  I thought it might help me get up and going, too.  But it did NOTHING for me.  I would take it and then lay down and take a nap. I quit taking it pretty quickly b/c the risks were too high for very little pay off.
    My PCP gave it to me b/c he knew I was at the end of my rope with my weight.  It was our last effort before WLS.  He is not one to prescribe it freely.  I was in a bad place and I was eating well and counting calories and filling up with water.  He kinda felt bad for me, I think.
   I am happy and kinda afraid for you.  You realize that Phentermine is not a long term drug.  While I can completely understand why you want it....it sucks to feel like crap all the time.  ( I have LUPUS and Fibro) As you take the phentermine you run a risk of becoming dependent on it.  Not to mention that the dosage you are on will eventually need to be elevated.  It's a CATCH 22.   I know you know that.   I have not heard of speed being used to help us.  I think mainly b/c using speed is just going to bring us a whole new set of issues.
  However,  you are grown.  So, that being said....you can buy it online without a prescription.  It's a little more expensive but the choice is yours.

Isn't it wonderful when you need a pill to "wake up" and another pill to go to sleep, I am recently diagnosed - but been suffering for years.  Yesterday, because I've been her patient for seven years and she knows the "before me" she gave my PCP gave me an Rx for Ritalin for my fatigue.    Now I've only taken it two days, but it seems to be helping.  It's also commonly prescribed as an adjunct med to anti-depressants.  You're insurance should cover it.  I don’t think many insurers will cover Phentermine.

Amy

I took phentermine for a while--it helped so much. But I was scared of it and it did elevate my blood pressure. About 6 months ago my sleep doc put me on ritalin and it helps with the fatigue so much it is a miracle. Because of the RNY (small stomache) I snap it in half and take it at breakfast and lunch. Then I pretty much always need a half an ambien at  night. My doc says that it is actually using it for what it was created for. I have also tried provigil and it helped just as well but is expensive and ritalin is cheap! Christine