Herbal Phentermine: Is it A Safe Alternative to Prescription Phentermine?

Phentermine is widely accepted nowadays because of its effective weight loss properties. However, there are a lot of talks regarding today’s Phentermine mainly because of the side effects it can bring. With the introduction of herbal Phentermine, is it right to say that there is already a safe alternative to prescription Phentermine today? Read on and find out what really herbal Phentermine is and whether or not it can be trusted as a safe alternative to Phentermine.

Prescription Phentermine vs. Herbal Phentermine

Prescription Phentermine has one active ingredient, which is phentermine hydrochloride. Though its appetite suppressing properties is beyond effective, there are problems with its safety. Taking Phentermine can offer serious side effects such as headache, dizziness, insomnia, chest pain, nausea, high blood pressure, impotence, and a lot more.

On the other hand, herbal Phentermine claims to be a safer alternative given its all-natural properties. This non-prescription Phentermine works just the same as its counterpart, only safer. Its all-natural ingredients including green tea, alpha lipoic acid, white willow extract, and other herbs are known to promote better metabolism and increased energy while suppressing the appetite. Some brands also contain B-complex vitamins and minerals that are also helping in the weight loss process. This makes herbal Phentermine an ideal weight loss drug as it does not only work to curb food cravings but also promote burning of calories.

The Benefits of Herbal Phentermine

There are a lot of known benefits herbal Phentermine has as compared to its prescription counterpart. First, and the most obvious, is its safety. Being made with all natural ingredients, herbal Phentermine is not expected to cause serious side effects that prescription Phentermine can bring. Though herbal Phentermine can bring side effects one way or another such as irritability, insomnia, and nervousness, the negative effects are not at all that serious of a threat to the health of the consumer.

Besides this, herbal Phentermine is a non-prescription diet pill. Hence, it does not require close supervision of a professional when taking one. With this, it can be easily purchased by anyone.  Plus, herbal Phentermine is cheaper.

No Serious Health Risks

As stated, one of the benefits of herbal Phentermine is it does not pose serious health risks as compared to prescription Phentermine. However, is it really enough to say that this kind of appetite suppressant drug is safer than its counterpart?

One thing about herbal Phentermine is it does not require approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As compared to prescription Phentermine, a controlled substance, has gained the approval of the FDA. Meaning, it is known for its effective results but must be properly controlled to avoid serious health problems due to improper usage.

But still, the question of whether or not this is a safer alternative to Phentermine is shadowed by a lot of issues. First, there are a lot of herbal Phentermine proliferating in the market especially online. Every type of herbal Phentermine contains different ingredients. Most of these ingredients claims and promises good weight loss results. There is also a common misconception of people that since it has Phentermine in its name, it is greatly similar to the prescription drug. However, the truth is that herbal Phentermine may have similar properties as that of the prescription pill but it is not a direct counterpart.

Safer Alternative to Prescription Phentermine

Herbal Phentermine has its own unique properties. Hence, it is different from the prescription Phentermine. This is an herbal version that can promise weight loss in suppressing appetite and increasing metabolism. There are already proofs that herbal Phentermine is safe and effective in curing obesity. We can say that herbal phentermine is a safer alternative to prescription Phentermine.

What Are Some of the Alternatives to Phentermine?

Phentermine is an appetite suppressant that aids in weight loss. Technically, it doesn’t cause you to lose weight, but by curbing your desire to eat, it ensures that you don’t put on any further weight. And when you don’t eat, what happens is that your body burns up the fat present, eventually resulting in you losing weight.

It is prescribed by doctors only to those who are obese or face medical risks owing to their weight; and often in conjunction with a healthy diet, coupled with exercise.

It is not a ‘miracle weight-loss drug’ – there are several known side-effects, and these include a dry mouth, food tasting unpleasant, nervousness, feeling restless, mental agitation, dizziness, high blood pressure / heart rate, irregular heart rhythms, diarrhea, constipation in some, headaches, increased frequency of urination, vomiting, rashes that break out on the skin for no reason, hives (medically called urticaria), swelling on the face, impotence (your libido is also affected), and aortic regurgitation or your blood flowing in the opposite direction – the heart pumps out blood, and this means that it has to work harder than usual.

This is the reason why it has been banned in the United Kingdom.

So, are there any alternatives?

Natural alternatives include St. John’s Wort and Korean Pine Nut Oil.

St. John’s Wort

Botanically hypericum perforatum, the herb (considered a weed in many parts and listed as such in 20 countries worldwide) can be found in China, India, Africa, Canada and the United States. It derives its name from the fact that it is ‘harvested’ on June 24, which marks the Feast of St. John the Baptist, which is also known as St. John’s Day.

The reason why it is ‘harvested’ is because it contains hypericin, a chemical compound that has anti-depressant properties. This is also the reason why it has been introduced into Australia, New Zealand and parts of Europe, although it requires to be grown at places whose altitude/elevation is less than 1,500 meters or 4,920 feet. If the place is located in the southern hemisphere (Australia / New Zealand / South Africa), the mean temperature in January must not be more than 24 °C or 75 °F. Additionally, the place must receive adequate rainfall for the plant to grow – more than 500 mm or 19 inches per year. All these explain why it can grow at only a few places around the world.

This is also why the evidence supporting it is limited. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, associated with the National Institutes of Health, initially found the data ‘inconclusive’; but in 2008, a Cochrane study that involved clinical trials found that it was superior than placebos and as good as conventional anti-depressant pharmaceutical drugs. Later studies by other organizations in 2015 and 2016 upheld this finding.

The availability of the plant may be the reason why there is plenty of data from Germany, where it is regularly prescribed to children and adolescents for depression that ranges from mild to moderate. Severe depression calls for more serious medical and psychological intervention.

Why is a natural anti-depressant being talked about in the context of weight loss?

The reason why people binge eat is because food brings them happiness. At the Maastricht University in The Netherlands, researchers found that there is a chemical reason behind this – fats and sugars have the effect of releasing ‘opioids’ in the brain, which calm down people who are mentally agitated. The word opioid is derived from opium, which is also the active ingredient in habit-forming narcotic substances like heroin. Because normal quantities of food can produce only extremely limited amounts of opioids – too small to make a difference – people who are upset or unhappy increase their food intake to feel better in terms of mood.

In other words, it is those who are unhappy that eat the most. If they were happy, they wouldn’t eat so much and add to their weight. But circumstances cannot always be controlled, and there will always be situations that make people unhappy. They can force themselves to feel happier with the help of anti-depressants, which can prevent them from eating too much.

Chemical antidepressants have their own side-effects, and so ‘natural’ anti-depressants are better. However, St. John’s Wort is not perfect – it can prevent other drugs from doing their job. Common drugs whose absorption into the human body is restricted by St. John’s Wort include antiretrovirals (these are administered to improve immunity when one has been affected by the Human Immune Virus or HIV), benzodiazepine (used for treating anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness/insomnia, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, muscle spasms, and seizures), oral contraceptives (hormonal drugs), immunosuppressants (drugs which reduce the efficacy of the immune system – this is sometimes done to prevent organ rejection), antiarrhythmics (used for treating abnormal heart rhythms), other cardiac drugs for heart-related problems, and statins, which reduce bad cholesterol and inhibit cardiac disease.

So if you are currently on medication, it would be worthwhile to check with your doctor first before you start with St. John’s Wort. In livestock, skin irritation*, restlessness (indicated by them pawing the ground, repeatedly shaking their heads or rubbing their heads against other animals or hard objects), confusion, depression, weakness in their hind limbs (some knuckle over), running around in circles, an increased sensitivity to water, reduced appetite, breathlessness, hyperactivity, and mania have all been noticed by Australian cattle farmers among their horses, sheep, goats and cattle who consume the plant. Convulsions occur to those who knock their head.

*This is severe, with the skin becoming red. It has been found that it arises from photosensitivity, or a lower tolerance to light (some animals seek shade as a result of this). Because of the itch, animals rub these parts of their skin themselves or against hard surfaces. Lesions develop (in milch cattle, this is observed on the udders), and in sheep, the wool covering the affected skin falls off. Their face(s) may also become swollen and clear signs of dermatitis can be seen. Milk-producing animals produce lesser milk, while pregnant female animals abort. In horses, there are clear changes to the eyes.

The weight loss is also seen in animals – young ones fail to gain weight, while the older ones lose weight. Mothers producing lesser milk results in starvation, and ultimately death. A lesser appetite also lends itself to the same cause of death in adult animals.

In large doses, St. John’s Wort can be fatal to animals. So St. John’s Wort may not be a good idea after all. It has its own set of side-effects in humans, including diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue, headaches, a dry mouth, loss of appetite (this can be bad if it prevents you from eating what you need), confusion, dizziness, restlessness and sedation.

For those with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, St. John’s Wort aggravates the condition, increasing psychosis/mania. Under no circumstances is to be taken by women on birth control pills – it can cause damage to the liver.

Recommended daily dosage ranges from 300 – 1200 milligrams, or 0.1 to 0.4 ounces per day. Some take 300mg (0.1 oz.) three times a day, while others take two doses of 600 mg (0.4 oz.) in a day. This varies according to the level of depression the person suffers from.

• If you take St. John’s Wort along with anti-depressants, it results in a dangerously high level of euphoria (caused by alarming levels of serotonin, the ‘happiness chemical’), so much that doctors warn against this.

Korean Pine Nut Oil

The active ingredient is pinolenic acid. This boosts levels of cholecystokinin in the human body, and cholecystokinin is a hormone that suppresses the appetite. A study found that Korean pine nut oil suppresses appetite by 60% for a period of four hours – so it may be necessary to take it several times a day.

Non-Natural Alternatives To Phentermine

Phen375

Despite what the name may suggest, Phen375 does not contain any Phentermine. Its key ingredients include dimethyl-pentylamine, which ensures that food is transformed into calories and not stored as fat; trimethylxanthine, an appetite suppressant; L-Carnitine*, an amino acid which sees to it that existing fat in the body is burned and transformed into calories [it further has the effect of expending these calories so that you do not feel “full of energy” all the time – to achieve this, it increases the metabolic rate]; eurycoma longifolia or longjack (indigenous to South East Asia), which protects against the loss/degradation of muscle tissue; Capsaicin, which increases blood circulation in the body; and a sympathomimetic chemical which boosts levels of norepinephrine, a hormone/neurotransmitter which ensures that glucose in the body does not stay that way, but is converted into energy.

*L-Carnitine has the added effect of preventing fat build-up in the heart/liver.

Because of all these (appetite suppression + conversion of fat into energy + expense of this energy + increase in muscle mass), Phen375 has emerged as one of the strongest alternatives to Phentermine. It is available in pill form, and results have shown that a person who takes it spends 270 calories over his/her normal energy expenditure.

Actual results: A woman who started taking it was able to lose 43 pounds in three months when she combined it with about 20 minutes of exercise each day. This is also recommended by the manufacturer (and the energy output associated with the pill guarantees that you will feel like exercising every day – all those calories produced by the breakdown of fat have to go somewhere). She was also able to cut down on her snacking by 90%, and started eating more healthy foods even as she got on the pill. Feeling hot and stuffy is something that comes to her less these days.

This may be unrelated, but all that energy also made her more productive at work, and she is up for a promotion. She has also started feeling more happier and confident, and is not afraid to be photographed anymore.

PhenQ

This too contains no phentermine. The active ingredients include capsimax powder (a combination of capsicum, niacin or Vitamin B3, caffeine and piperine / black pepper), which has the dual properties of both burning up existing body fat as well as preventing new fat cells from developing in the body; calcium carbonate*; chromium picolinate, a natural mineral which controls your blood sugar levels and prevents you from craving for more sugar (this is when you turn to food); nopal, which extracts fluids from your tissues – two-thirds of your body is water – and pushes them into your bloodstream, aiding in weight loss; and L-Carnitine furmate as well as pure caffeine.

*Calcium carbonate helps regulate weight, keeping it around what is ideal for your body (this depends on your height, but you can be assured of a healthy BMI or Body-Mass Index). Some studies suggest that calcium carbonate sends out the signal that the body does not need to store any more fat, and also helps the fat-burning process. This may be the reason why professional bodybuilders use calcium carbonate as a supplement. But for you, calcium carbonate can help you get rid of that excess weight. This has been scientifically proven – obese adults who started taking calcium carbonate as a supplement lost a lot of body fat (up to 69.2%, 26.9% of this from the waist region) and weight (as high as 12.5%) over the six months that they were monitored.

Capsinoids and capsaicinoids, present in the capsimax powder, have been found to increase energy expenditure 50,000 calories per day and contribute to major weight loss over 1-2 years – this too has been scientifically studied. In addition, Cornell University studied people suffering from depression over a period of eight weeks, and found that chromium supplements curbs appetite, indirectly aiding in the process of weight loss. Another study that looked specifically at chromium picolinate too found the same and their findings were published in the International Journal of Obesity.

Actual results: Jessica, who put on 15 pounds post pregnancy was able to shed those extra pounds with PhenQ, while Kimberly who had been overweight her whole adult life, lost 27 pounds. She is now full of energy and can play with her grandkids. Michael, who was a large kid, lost 32 pounds, and Ashley, who lost seven pounds, now no longer has to suck in her gut when having her picture taken, all thanks to PhenQ.

Fenfast 375

This contains beta phenylethylamine HCl (this helps those on a diet to lose weight faster and with more ease, and the difference is that this loss is ‘safe’); 1,3,7 trimethylxanthine or caffeine anhydrous, which boosts the body’s metabolism and burns fat while also suppressing appetite at the same time; and hordenine HCl, which increases energy levels and combats the fatigue that is associated with weight loss. Fenfast 375 makes exercising a lot easier and also elevates one’s mood.

Side effects include a dry mouth and feeling ‘jittery’, or on the edge.

Actual results: One person lost 21 pounds in six weeks.

Contrave

Contrave is the newest way of weight loss. However, it contains bupropion HCl which leads to mood changes and thoughts of suicide. It is not recommended for those who suffer from depression. It is also known to counteract with other medication, so this should be kept away if you take drugs that contain bupropion (like Wellbutrin or Aplenzin), opioids like buprenorphine or methadone, sedatives, anti-seizure medicines, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (talk to your doctor or chemist to find out) or benzodiazepines.

If you have ever had a history of diabetes (Type 2 diabetes mellitus), alcohol abuse, bulimia (you throw up what you have eaten to avoid weight gain), or anorexia (eating too little on purpose to avoid gaining weight), Contrave is not for you. If you are planning to get pregnant, avoid Contrave. In the event that you become pregnant while being on Contrave, you should check with your gynecologist immediately.

Side effects include allergic reactions like hives, itching, rashes, sores around the eyes or in the mouth, swelling of the lips/tongue, breathing difficulty, chest pain, increased blood pressure, heightened heart rate, stomach pain that lasts for a few days, liver damage (this is often indicated by fatigue and dark-colored urine), mania, low blood pressure, vomiting, nausea, dry mouth, diarrhea, constipation, headaches, dizziness, eye pain, swollen eyes, difficulty sleeping, changes in vision, red and/or swollen eyes.

Contrave is recommended only for those with a BMI or Body-Mass Index of 27 or higher.

How to calculate Body-Mass Index?

Because this is used worldwide, the metric system is used. First convert your weight into kilograms and then divide it by your height in meters. Then divide this figure by your height (in meters) again.

If you weigh 165 pounds, that would mean your weight in kilograms is 75. Let us say you stand tall at 5’4″. This means 64 inches (each foot is twelve inches), which translates to 1.62 meters. Applying the calculation, dividing 75 by 1.62 yields 46.29. This is to be divided by 1.62 again, resulting in a BMI of 28.5 – according to international standards, this means you are overweight (the benchmark for ‘overweight’ is 27). If you arrive at a figure of more than 30, then that means you are considered ‘obese’. If it is 40 or more, then you are ‘morbidly obese’ – you are officially at risk of dying early owing to weight-related complications, so it is strongly recommended that you get in touch with your doctor immediately.

If you have difficulty converting your weight into kilograms or height into meters, use online tools – there are plenty of them available.

Apex TX-5

This contains acetyl-L-carnitine HCl (which increases energy levels, and reduces body fat, especially in those who are older), 1,3,7 trimethylxanthine or caffeine anhydrous, which boosts the body’s metabolism and burns fat while also suppressing appetite at the same time and keeping one alert, beta phenylethylamine HCl (elevates mood levels and helps lose weight faster and more easily, but in a safe manner), L-Tyrosine, an appetite suppressant, and theobromine, a mild diuretic (diuretics are those which absorb water from your cells and ensure they are passed out of the body via urine). The last one makes sense because two-thirds of your body is water, and too strong a diuretic may result in dehydration.

This is not for those with a history of high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, Parkinson’s Disease, nervousness, seizures, or any other psychiatric disorder, diabetes, headaches, asthma, anemia, problem with your heart, liver, thyroid and/or kidney, ulcers, difficulty in urination, enlarged prostrate, or glaucoma. If you are currently on medication that contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors, anticoagulants, antiplatelets, phenylpropanolamine, ephedrine, or pseudo-ephedrine (these are commonly found in medicines for cough, cold, asthma and allergies).

The manufacturers warn against its usage if the person uses caffeine (found in coffee, tea, soda and energy drinks), so this may not be for you after all. If you go against this warning, you are likely to experience breathlessness, an elevated heart rate or other adverse reactions to Apex TX-5.

Actual results: One person lost 22 pounds in a month. Another user who started on Apex TX-5 reported similar results of losing five pounds in the first week itself.

PhenBlue

Ingredients present in PhenBlue include NeOpuntia, which is a natural lipophilic fiber derived from dehydrated opuntia ficus-indica cactus leaves; 1,3,7 trimethylxanthine or caffeine anhydrous, which suppresses appetite, keeps one alert, burns fat, boosts metabolism in the body while increasing endurance and reducing fatigue; organic matcha green tea leaf powder, which polyphenol compounds like epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG – this stimulates the burning of fat and boosts metabolism by as much as 4%; and theobromine, which is found in chocolate (this ingredient has been added to elevate mood levels and it is the reason why 96% of the world’s population find pleasure in chocolate). Theobromine is also a diuretic, meaning it drains water from your cells. Given that 66% of your body is water, this can be helpful when it comes to weight loss.

The reason why Matcha green tea has been chosen is because of its high EGCG composition – it contains 137 times more EGCG than China Green Tips green tea. In fact, the percentage of EGCG in Matcha green tea is at least three times greater than any other commonly used green tea.

PhenBlue is to be taken along with exercise, and you can see an increase in muscle mass along with the reduction in body fat and weight.

Actual results: Lynn tried it after her doctor advised against Phentermine, and not only did her help her to lose those extra pounds that she gained during pregnancy, she now also has more energy to look after her son.

Phentramine-D

This is one of the best and top-rated alternatives to Phentermine. Ingredients present in Phentramine-D are yohimbine HCl (this component ensures that energy released by burning fat cells is expended, rather than being used for building muscle mass – this way, it is ideal for those who want to look slimmer than have their fat replaced by muscle); 2-phenylethylamine, which makes you feel good; hordenine; synephrine; and caffeine anhydrous or 1,3,7 trimethylxanthine.

Hordenine by itself doesn’t have any major advantages when it comes to weight loss, but when combined with 2-phenylethylamine or PEA, the result is an increase in energy levels. Synephrine is something that generates ‘adrenalin-like’ effects in the body, but without its side-effects like increased heart rate et al,

Phentramine-D has all the positive effects of Phentermine, and does not come with any of its side-effects.

The only thing you have to be careful about is to drink plenty of water or consume a lot of fluids during the day, lest you become dehydrated. It is also not to be taken on an empty stomach – nausea and dizziness may be the end result. You are further advised to skip it if you have hormonal imbalance or thyroid problems, diabetes, heart ailments or high blood pressure. Phentramine-D is a strict no-no if you are on other diet pills or anti-depressants.

For best results, Phentramine-D is to be combined with some form of exercise. You needn’t necessarily hit the gym, this could be as simple as taking the stairs whenever you can, using a bicycle, or walking (preferably at a brisk pace). If you prefer the gym, there is the stair climber, exercise bike and the treadmill to substitute for these. Because the fat-burning process begins only after 15 minutes of exercise, it is important to engage in this for about half an hour each day.

Actual results: Robin lost 7 pounds in two weeks and her jeans have now become ‘baggy’; while Peggy lost 25 pounds in the first month.

Coming back to Phentermine, its benefits outweigh the side-effects. That is why the Food and Drug Administration has cleared it for legal use in the United States.