Phentermine Usage: Critical Precautions You Need To Take

Regular visits to the physician are a good idea when taking any appetite suppressants, let alone phentermine. Your physician will be able to map any adverse effects of the drug on your system, well within time and prevent any problems from escalating.

A common practice among many phentermine users is increasing dosage on their own, when they feel that the drug is “not working”. Such practices will harm you and care must be taken to consult a physician before making any alterations to the dose.

Phentermine also gets affected by the bio-chemicals present in the body and can lead to severe side effects when combined with certain medications. To ensure that you get the most out of your phentermine use, follow these precautions –

• Discuss your medical history with the doctor

A host of medical conditions affect the action of phentermine and can lead to complications, unless taken care of. Conditions including advanced atherosclerosis, glaucoma, hypertension, symptomatic cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism and kidney diseases, can affect the action of phentermine.

Inform your healthcare provider if you suffer from (or previously suffered from) any ailments mentioned. Allergies, episodes of stroke and heart conditions of any kind must be conveyed too.

Patients with a history of mental illness in their family and those who abuse (or have in the past) alcohol and drugs must inform the doctor of the same. Women who are pregnant (or are trying to get pregnant) must inform their doctors of the same. Also, let the doctor know if you are breastfeeding. The medicine may enter your baby via the breast milk and leave harmful effects.

• Know the contra-indications

The use of phentermine gets contraindicated in people who are diabetic, consume alcohol, suffer from kidney diseases, ulcers, epilepsy, glaucoma and hyperthyroidism. Contraindications also occur in those who drive or perform hazardous work.

• Take caution against other medications

Medicines prescribed for cold, asthma, allergies and sinus react adversely with phentermine and must never be used together. Similarly, inform the doctor if you are on nabilone, cocaine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, cholphendianol and caffeine.

If you have taken any mono-amine oxidase inhibitor in the last two weeks, inform your doctor about it. Phentermine and Fenfluramine must never be used together because it leads to severe adverse effects including disorders of the heart valves as well as lungs.

• Mind the dose

Phentermine is to be used for short periods only. Prolonged use leads to addiction as well as severe health problems. After a few weeks of use, it is common for the body to develop some tolerance against the drug. No changes to the dose (in an attempt to overcome body’s tolerance) should be made without consulting a doctor.

• Look out for symptoms

Contact your healthcare provider at the first signs of any adverse symptoms. Unless you have learned how phentermine affects you (it may make you feel dizzy, drowsy, less alert or, may give you a false feeling of well-being), do not engage in driving, using machinery or any work that requires a higher level of alertness. Similarly, elders must be extra cautious when using phentermine because it puts them at a higher risk of hypertension and dizziness.