What Is Phentermine Used For: Is It Good For Weight Loss?

The two main conventional cornerstones for weight loss are a well-balanced diet in conjunction with physical exercise. While this might work for some people rapidly, it may take time for others.

This is where weight loss supplements like phentermine swoop in to save the day. Phentermine is a powerful drug with short-term effectiveness, and when used alongside physical exercise and a healthy diet, it can yield significant weight loss results.

If you are struggling with weight loss, then continue reading this article to find out if phentermine is the best solution for you.

What Does Phentermine Do To The Body?

Phentemine can help decrease appetite, increase the energy level used by our body, or by triggering some parts of the brain. For those who don’t know what phentermine is, it’s a weight loss prescription drug used for short-term periods (1). Phentermine is similar to amphetamines, and it falls under anorectics.

Anorectics are commonly identified as appetite suppressants.  The pills are most effective when taken under a pharmacist’s directions and supervision(2).

Though the phentermine is FDA—approved, the National Library of Medicine suggests a few weeks of usage to avoid dependency.

Due to its amphetamine properties, it can stimulate certain chemicals in your brain, making you feel full. By curbing your appetite like this, you eat less, promoting weight loss.

Appetite suppression is its complementary therapeutic property which helps obese individuals cut weight quicker.

According to some studies, phentermine can help you lose between 5-10% of weight in two weeks. As the most prescribed drug, phentermine became FDA–approved in 1959 for medical use. Because of its similarities with amphetamines, it is only available as a prescription drug.

How does Phentermine Work?

Now that you know what phentermine is, how does it work? As previously mentioned, this weight loss supplement helps you lose weight by suppressing your appetite, therefore reducing your calorie intake. [Read: How Long Phentermine Stays In Your System]

Currently, it’s unclear how the pill suppresses your appetite. But some scientists suggest that it triggers and increases the levels of neurotransmitters in your brain, thereby making you feel full.

These neurotransmitters are dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. The chemicals act as your body’s messenger, and once their levels increase, the hungry feeling reduces. [Read PhenGold Customer Reviews: Is It Safe To Lose Weight?]

Remember, though, within a few weeks; you’ll most likely develop tolerance to the drug’s effect. So, immediately you notice this, seek professional advice from the doctor or the pharmacist who prescribed it.

how effective is phentermine for Weight Loss?

If you’re inquiring about the weight loss effects of this diet pill, chances are, you’re in desperate need of an alternative weight loss solution. So, how effective is phentermine for weight loss?

Well, even though the FDA approved it for short-term usage lasting about 12 weeks, some health care professionals often prescribe it for long-term use.

Health care professionals may also prescribe the diet pill for intermittent use (3). That means setting the duration of usage and then taking a break before resuming the medication. For the first quarter of the year under this pill, you’ll most likely lose about 3% of your initial weight.

However, if you remain under the pill for the first half of the year, you’ll likely lose about 5% to 7% of body weight—for example, a person weighing 200 lbs will lose around 10–14 pounds for the first six months under the diet pill.

Some people, though, may lose more than that because people respond differently to the medication. Suppose you don’t show any significant weight loss difference after three months; your doctor may advise discontinuing the medication. Read Here: How Do Antidepressants Work?

Phentermine can work just fine on its own as a diet pill. However, combining this supplement with topiramate is more effective than phentermine alone. Qsymia is the brand name under which this combination of medications is sold.

According to drug makers, Qsymia can help you lose more than 5% of your initial weight. A recent study found that people who used Qsymia lost an average of 16 pounds.

Individuals who continued the medication for more than 52 weeks lost about 18 pounds. Benefits identified in individuals who use Qsymia include; improved blood sugar management and insulin sensitivity and reduced blood pressure.

Dosage Recommendation

Phentermine comes as an oral pill for weight loss; that’s why it’s known as a diet pill. Pharmacists or doctors can also modify the amount for a minimum effective dosage. So, the minimum effective dosage for adults is 15mg, 30mg, and 37.5mg, delivering 12mg, 24mg, and 30mg of this diet pill, respectively.

The appropriate daily dose for Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate) varies from 23-92mg of topiramate and 3.75-15mg of phentermine. If you have any underlying medical issues, the dosage may change. For example, individuals with kidney problems require little doses to avoid stressing the organ. If the kidney diseases are in their advanced stages, the patient shouldn’t use the diet pill completely.

Small children and teens below the age of 16 should not use this drug because of certain health risks. Some researchers suggest that the drug can cause insomnia if taken in the evening or when going to sleep. Notably, phentermine’s cost essentially varies dosage-wise, plus your health insurance may also cover the expenses, suppose you can’t pay for the pill.

Conditions and other Medication

Your medication or health conditions are significant determinants of whether phentermine is suitable for you. You aren’t supposed to use Phentermine under the following conditions;

• History of cardiovascular Diseases
• Drug abuse history
• Glaucoma
• If you’re using antidepressants like; oxidase inhibitors or monoamine.

Your doctor will most likely monitor your phentermine usage if you suffer from hypoglycemia or diabetes. That means you’ll be reducing your medication usage when under the diet pill (phentermine).

A combination of phentermine and alcohol can cause serious health consequences. So, avoid consuming alcohol when under this diet pill. If you are breastfeeding or pregnant, discontinue using this drug until after breastfeeding.

Final Thoughts

Generally, phentermine is a prescription weight loss drug meant for short-term usage. Though the phentermine itself seems to be effective as a standalone supplement, a combination with topiramate appears to be much more effective.

Bear in mind that the only way you can get your hands on this drug is through a prescription, mainly due to dependency issues when misused.

Before going for this diet pill, it’s best to try physical exercise and healthy eating to lose weight. Diet pills should be the last resort in your attempt to lose weight. As Fred Devito once said, “it doesn’t change you if it doesn’t challenge you.” So, Meanwhile, put more work into your workout routine and healthy eating habits first.

Medical Discalimer: The information provided here On Geeks Health website is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you have or suspect a medical problem, promptly contact your healthcare provider. Reliance on any information in this response is solely at your own risk.