14 replies to this topic

[Incyder38]

So, I lost 5 pounds after my first nutritional visit, then, gained 2 of those pounds back after my 2nd nutritional visit. I stood on the scale, and was thoroughly disappointed in myself. Then, my Dr. walked over and said to my nutritionist, "He looks great! How much weight has he lost?" she told him I had gained 2 of the lost pounds back. He was surprised and asked me how I felt. I told him that my clothes were a bit looser, and that I had expected to come in weighing 8 pounds less.

Long story short, My Dr. and my nutritionist sat down together with me, and he said, I want you all smiles when you come in here next. He gave me an Rx for Phentermine 37.5 mg. I started taking these pills last Tues, and I have lost 9 pounds. I have to basically force myself to eat at this point. These pills are something else. They make me a bit shaky, and I apparently like to chat chat chat chat chat with everyone I come across, and it makes my forehead sweat like I'm hiking Death valley in August, but the weird thing is, when I'm on these pills, and I see food, I have no desire to eat it!! NO DESIRE TO EAT ANYTHING WHATSOEVER!

I think this is all really confusing to me. Have any of you folks ever used this medication? Did you have similar results? Is this normal??

[Msliberty]

Phentermine is great! What you are experiencing is natural and the way the medicine works. It is great stuff, but can only be taken for short period of time because people can become dependent. Make sure you take the medicine in the morning, so you can sleep at night and drink plenty of water. Take care!

[ncblueyes]

OH, I LOVE PHENTERMINE.....but high blood pressure meant no more for me. My daughter lost 75+ (post-twin pregnancy) using it and has maintained her loss for a year....

I'd take it forever if I could...

[Incyder38]

ncblueyes said:

OH, I LOVE PHENTERMINE.....but high blood pressure meant no more for me. My daughter lost 75+ (post-twin pregnancy) using it and has maintained her loss for a year....

I'd take it forever if I could...

I have HTN as well, but with 40 mg Vasotec and 100 mg Hydrochlorathyazide, even with the Phentermine, I'm at 126/84ish...so doc said go for it. 37.5 Mg. 2 times a day, and I am able to very easily lose the 15 lbs they asked me to lose. They also said the 2 week liver shrinking diet probably not be necessary due to the fact that I will have lost the 15 lbs. I have a wonderful medical team working with me that are avail day and night...for that I know I am VERY lucky.

After I posted this thread this morning, I read some mail I received this weekend and found out that the original Dr. who was supposed to do my surgery, and the original facility I was supposed to have it at, is probably not on my insurance list of accepted. This is uncool in so many ways. We will have to see what happens. I have completed everything on my list but the psych eval...and I'm doing that tomorrow. 4-6 weeks away and it looks like the whole program is about to be completely changed... :(

[Incyder38]

Msliberty said:

Phentermine is great! What you are experiencing is natural and the way the medicine works. It is great stuff, but can only be taken for short period of time because people can become dependent. Make sure you take the medicine in the morning, so you can sleep at night and drink plenty of water. Take care!

Thats what the Doc said...after surgery he wants to get me off all my meds....and to JUST take vitamins and supplements....just the thought of this alone makes me so excited!!!!

[SweetP]

I've taken it before and loved it, but then again I loved a lot drugs. Basically what it is, is legalized speed. That's why you are so chatty, have a ton of energy and don't want to eat anything. I just really caution anyone taking it because you can easily become dependant on it.

[Tresey1034]

I had taken the pills before, & yes, they are great! Last summer, I lost over 35 lbs, but I had stopped taking them around my birthday. While I was taking them, I was also doing my portions, eating five healthy meals & no eating past 7pm. After my birthday, I was still eating healthy, but didn't have the money for the pills, so I didn't get back on the pills probably until February. The pills didn't have the same effect on me like last summer. I needed them for my cravings, but even after I took them this year, after two hours I was able to feel the cravings coming back! So, I stop taking them. The bad part is that within that time frame, I gained my weight back, plus some! I gained about 43 lbs. I also found out that the pills affect your liver severely. I didn't want any more harm than what is already there! Having sweats, chattery, & jitters are the side effects, & be careful because they are addictive. Its like taking a prescribed No Doze along with drinking a coke(double the caffeine) just be careful & tell you doctor about your side effects! Hope, this helps!

[kallie03]

I too have been on them. They are amazing!! But they caused me to have high BP too, so my doc cut them off...but just be careful on them.

[Squishy]

Prior to WLS, I tried just about everything, including Phentermine. The initial effect was great! My appetite was completely under control. I kept asking "if this is what thin people feel like" in regard to eating. It really showed me how "driven" I was to eat before. I had to weigh in every week and have my blood pressure checked. I was losing very steadily... having great success. I also had tremendous energy. I didn't notice it, but my kids mentioned that I never sat still. I was always cleaning something, fixing something, etc. I guess that was a bonus for my wife. Ha Ha!

I was ready for a refill and my doctor had gone on vacation. I found out I had to go out of town for a few weeks so I needed the refill. I went to the doctor that was covering for him while he was gone. That doctor said that he did not believe in pills for weight loss and refused to refill the prescription! In my opinion, that was very irresponsible of him (and judgmental).

I cold-turkeyed off them for three weeks. When I returned home, my doctor prescribed more, but they never worked again. I have no idea why. Maybe it is all psychological. Regardless, it had no effect on me the second time around, so we discontinued them.

As long as they are working, and the doctor is watching for blood pressure and dependency, keep going and best wishes!

-Mike-

[rsw]

Phentermine is the one and only way I have ever lost a whole bunch of weight. I absolutely LOVED being on them. And I was def dependent. Problem is, after a year or so, they stopped working and I stopped taking them and I exploded. Put the weight back on and more (of course). And the dependency on the speed element of it sent me spiraling into serious depression. But it would be perfect for a pre-op diet. Just be careful!

[LadyAsche]

My experience with Phentermine was less than stellar.

Sure, I lost weight the first 10 days...until I started waking up at night, sweating sheets with my heart beating out of my chest. Then I started happening during the day, too. Eventually, my palpitations became enough of a concern that I brought it up to my MD and took me off of them, but unfortunately, I still have random palpitations on a regular basis (even though it's been almost 6 months ago). I've been told that this is a rare side effect, but I am annoyed that this may be a permenant fixture in my life now. Argh.

However, don't let me rain on your parade - I wish you the best of luck!

[watfam4]

I took Phentermine on one of my Dr. supervised diets. It worked great for about 3 months and I lost about 50 lbs. (then gained it all back). The only side effect that I had a problem with was the dry mouth. I do not know anyone who's taken Phentermine and have it work for a long term weight loss solution, but to drop some weight quickly and shrink your liver before WLS, I think that this is a good option.

[ansley]

ooo yeah..I took it a few years back. I lost 20 or 30 pounds on it. When I went off it (blood pressure sky rocketed) I gained 50 back...hence why I had WLS in March :p

[mjune]

I took it several years ago and lost 50 pounds. Then, went off the meds and gained it all back.

Before surgery, my doctor put me on it again to help with the pre-op weight loss. It worked, but not without some nasty side effects. I actually stopped taking it myself several weeks before surgery. The two big side effects I had were difficulty sleeping (trouble falling asleep and staying asleep) and...um...let's just say that my libido went into high gear. Trust me, as nice as this might sound, is was not! I literally had trouble focusing on anything else some days and this is what eventually led me to go off the meds.

[ladytarheelinohio]

They caused me to feel anxious and nervous all the time. My blood pressure is normally low and on phentermine it was sky high. I did lose weight but the way I felt was awful so I went off it.