Question:
Anyone taking Phentermine?
Is anyone taking phentermine? I just recently started taking it due to appetite out of control, compulsive thoughts of wanting to eat, to the point I could not resist. PLEASE no negative comments. I had gastric bypass April 2003. Lost down to lowest of 141 lbs from 262 now I'm up to 154. I'm so scared about gaining my weight back. At first the phentermine worked, I've only been taking it a little over 2 weeks. But now it seems it isnt helping like it should. I take it a 7 am, dont eat or drink anything for 1 hour(afraid it will get flushed out). It does Ok until about 11:30 am to noon. I make myself eat breakfast about 8:30am usually a protein bar or boiled eggs, but then the food thoughts slowly creep back in. I take 30 mg, capsule with the blue and white pellets. I open the capsule and only take the pellets(nasty taste) with a sip of drink. Thats how my surgeon has me to take my Prevacid. Do you think the med would work right if I didnt open the capsule? Im also taking Effexor XR 150 mg every day and doing well from that. I first tried paxil and zoloft but that seemed to increase my appetite more, so he switched me to Effexor because it isnt supposed to increase my appetite. Has anyone else had this problem with taking phentermine and not working like it should or any other diet pill? I will do anything to keep from getting FAT again. Again please no negative remarks, I didnt come here to be attacked, only looking for some insight. Thanks. — Carrie W. (posted on June 15, 2005)
June 15, 2005
I get the impression that you got the phentermine without your PCP's
knowledge. Did he or she prescribe the pills or did you buy them online?
Especially since you are taking other medications that might conflict
(dangerously) with Phen.
Phentermine doesn't 'work' for everyone - most people who do feel its
effects build up a tolerance - it sounds as though you have developed a
tolerance to it already.
You might want to check out this site: (http://www.) anorectic-drugs.com
for more info.
— Curly Girl
June 15, 2005
I read your other post yesterday didn't think I could add any thing but now
with this now post, and more info. I think I might have some thing to say.
Your meds might be causing your appetite increase! I took those same med
before and I was starving all the time. I would eat and sleep on them, and
thats it. Even if you took them before WLS maybe you didn't notice. And
somtimes our response to our meds change. And if there is depression
involved well I don't have to explain what that does to your appetite. I
know I was an eating machine during that time in my life. Also, one more
thing to think about maybe your mourning the whole comfort through food
thing. I know I will definitly have to look out for that, and I wasn't a
comfort eater. I hope it helps, and I know your Dr. "prescribed"
your meds, because of your last post. Good luck.
— [Deactivated Member]
June 15, 2005
ORIGINAL POSTER HERE. Yes my doctor prescribed the phentermine for me, not
my gastric surgeon. My doctor is a great doctor, he truly understands. I
happened upon him by accident, I use to see a nurse practioner and one appt
I was waiting to see her and she had an emergency and they asked if it
would be OK to see this other MD, boy Im so glad too. The day he prescribed
the phentermine for me, he had a medical student following him and he told
his student "they fixed her stomach not her head" I thought this
is amazing he really understands, I found my doctor, I'll follow him
anywhere. Well I went and saw him again today and we talked about it not
working (phentermine)so he changed me to another med. This time it is a
tablet,and have to take it 2 times a day, hopefully this one will work. I'm
just still amazed I finally found a doctor that actually understands and
cares. And yes he knows I take Effexor he is the one that put me on it, he
is trying to help me control this monstor appetite. and yes I do eat for
comfort, but mostly I eat cus I like to eat. Chocolate is my downfall. The
first time I took phentermine (years ago when it was phen-fen) I had to
force myself to eat anytime I ate. I take the effexor due to anxiety, not
depression.
— Carrie W.
June 15, 2005
Dont know about the phentermine but Prevacid also comes in a dissolvable
tablets that tastes good. You just let it dissintegrate on your tongue and
the med goes to your stomach. Works great for me. Its called Prevacid
Solu-Tabs and is usually the same amount thru insurance as the capsules.
— majorjohnson
June 15, 2005
Carrie, I haven't had my wls surgery yet, still working on it, but I have
taken Phentermine. Phentermine only works for a very short period, 2-4
wks(if you're lucky)Supposedly it is supposed to jump start your diet. I'm
not sure whether taking them whole makes a difference. I took the 37.5mg
and they did nothing for me, well, I wasn't hungry during the day, but at
night the same old cravings came back.
— Kathy H.
June 15, 2005
Hey Carrie I am not trying to be negative but have you considered seeing a
therapist to see if you can work through why you eat for comfort? Sometimes
getting a proffesional opionion can help and not just your regular Dr. I am
sure he is great but alot of the time they just do not have the time to sit
and talk to you and get to maybe some other reasons you eat. Good luck with
whatever you decide to do.
Kim
— kmnae
June 16, 2005
Firstly, I've always been told that with weight loss meds, if it comes in a
capsule form, you destroy the integrity of the medication if you open the
capsule and take it that way - a psychiatrist friend told me this
yesterday! Also, a friend of mine started taking Phentermine a 4-5 weeks
ago. She stopped taking it because it was making her anxiety worse (she
was taking Wellbutrin) and she was having panic attacks. She plans to go
back to her MD to discuss this, but FYI - she was still losing weight with
the Phentermine. Good luck to you!
— Nicki F.
June 16, 2005
I use to take phentermine and my doctor prescribed the 37.5 tablets. To
control the hunger later in the day he advised to break the tablet in half.
Take one-half in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. Do not
take it too late in the day thought it will keep you awake.
— jeriksson
June 16, 2005
After taking phentermine for a time, I developed something I'd never had
before....a good case of depression. I didn't know what was going on since
I've never had depression issues before.
It took some time to get out of it - and really couldn't believe it would
be the phentermine so I tried it again. Depression came back. I learned my
lesson! No phentermine for me! Good luck!
— LadyDi9080
June 16, 2005
I took phentermine for a while and lost 30# in 6 months but unfortunally
gained it all back plus. I started taking it in the morning and was
snacking by 10pm. Im not a morning person so i wasnt real hungry at
breakfast. I starting taking it at about 11am 1 hour before lunch and had
better results. I am now at my highest weight and looking into RNY.
— sweetsharon79
June 16, 2005
I'd like to make a comment on openning capsules - it is OK but only for
certain drugs. Check with pharmacist first - they are more likely to knwo
than a physician which are safe to open and which are not. Have you
thought about other reasons you might be eating than just you like it? I'm
a big beleiver in figuring out why we eat. And it doesn't always have to
be an emotional reason, sometimes I eat because I'm thristy or cold or hot.
Also, is there any chance you have a vitamin defecincy? From watching
other posts, that can lead to eating. And another just in from my sister
some oddball research is showing that drinking diet pop makes us gain wait
because our bodies desire more food in response to the sweet taste or some
such thing. A bit rambly tonight...
— Jenny X.
June 16, 2005
"They fixed her stomach, not her head" is what this MD said to
his student in your presence? That doesn't feel caring to me, it sounds
glib and insensitive! It's as if you weren't even there to hear it.
Nor does it sound like he is doing anything to "fix your head."
Dear Carrie,
Please consider working with a trained professional who can guide and
support you as you heal the emotional wounds that are causing you to hurt
yourself with food. The cravings cannot be healed with diet pills,
postponed or deferred for a time, but not healed.
Lovingly,
Lauralyn
— EmbodySuccess
June 16, 2005
Years ago I took Phen-fen with great results. They years later before I
had gastric bypass surgery I tried Phen alone. It stops working after about
a week. You might want to try Meridia also. Some people have good luck
with it. It gave me headaches so I couldn't take it. I wish I could get
down to 141. I have been plateaued at 156 for so long. I am 9 mos out.
Have you tried increasing your exercise too. Try walking at least an hour
each day outside since the weather is nice. It does wonders.
— NL
June 16, 2005
I was taking phentermine at one time, and my doctor told me to take it
around 10 am, for it will last longer, and you are between breakfast and
dinner, hope this helps, merida had my heart do fast, Good Luck, Martha
— happy66
July 15, 2005
Do not open the pill up. They are time released and slowly work throughout
the day. This is probably why you get your cravings back later in the day.
I was told this exactly by my doctor. Hope it helps
— A H.
Click Here to Return