Losing weight can be a daunting task, and often times we just need something that will make it a bit easier. For many, weight loss drugs seem to be the ray of hope to overcome their challenge in losing weight. Phentermine, a prescription medication, is one such drug that may help some lose weight. However, it is important to be aware that phentermine is not the magic weight loss drug for everyone.
Phentermine works by decreasing the feeling of hunger and makes the individual feel fuller. Ideal, right? However, phentermine is not for those who want to shed a few pounds, it is actually for those who are facing dramatic health consequences due to being significantly overweight. Phentermine is also not recommended for those who have heart disease, hypertension, overactive thyroid, glaucoma, history of drug use, are pregnant or could be pregnant.
If you do qualify for phentermine there are many salient points to know to optimize weight loss while on phentermine. Phentermine will help you lose weight but it is contingent on the diet and exercise pattern that is set during the phentermine course. Regular exercise with strict diet can provide a larger percent of weight loss then infrequent exercise and no portion control. Another key point that many do not realize about phentermine is that it is supposed to be a short therapy of 12 weeks. It is not recommended to go beyond this period because the body may develop resistance to phentermine and the weight loss aspect of the drug may dissipate while the side effects will remain. Due to the short therapy it is vital for the patient to develop a diet and exercise plan during the phentermine course and continue it when the phentermine is tapered off and eventually discontinued. If the diet and exercise program is not continued after phentermine is stopped then it is likely that a person will see an increase in weight.
With any drug there is the risk of side effects and it is important to know them when considering it as a choice of therapy. There is a risk of hypertension, heart palpitation, constipation, euphoria, headaches, insomnia, hyper-stimulation. Phentermine also has a significant chance of dependence and it is not recommended as a first resort for weight loss. Many individuals have reported that they were unable to taper off and have remained dependent on taking phentermine even though they were not seeing any more weight loss. The abuse potential of phentermine has placed it under a special class of controlled medications that prescribers are hesitant to give to their patients.
Losing weight is a task that takes determination and time and there are medications that can aid in the task. However, the risk and benefit should carefully be looked over when thinking about adding medications to a weight loss regime because we do not want to be causing more harm in the long run.