What is the most important information I should know about phentermine?
Taking phentermine together with other diet medications such as fenfluramine (Phen-Fen)
or dexfenfluramine (Redux) can cause a rare fatal lung disorder called pulmonary hypertension. Do not take phentermine with any other diet medications without your doctor's
advice.
Phentermine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be
careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid
drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of phentermine.
Phentermine may be habit-forming and
should be used only by the person
it was prescribed for. Keep track of how many pills have been used from each new
bottle of this medicine. Phentermine is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in
the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.
You may have withdrawal symptoms, such as depression and extreme tiredness, when
you stop using phentermine after a long period of use. Do not stop using phentermine suddenly
without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the
medication completely.
What is phentermine?
Phentermine is a stimulant that is similar to an amphetamine. Phentermine is an appetite
suppressant that affects the central nervous system.
Phentermine is used togther with diet and exercise to treat obesity (overweight) in people
with risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.
Phentermine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking phentermine?
Do not take phentermine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid
(Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or
tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can
occur if you take phentermine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Taking phentermine together with other diet medications such as fenfluramine (Phen-Fen)
or dexfenfluramine (Redux) can cause a rare fatal lung disorder called pulmonary hypertension. Do not take phentermine with any other diet medications without your doctor's
advice.
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to phentermine or other stimulants, or
if you have:
Before taking phentermine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any
drugs, or if you have:
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment
or special tests during treatment.
It is not known whether phentermine will harm an unborn baby. Do not take
phentermine without telling your doctor if you are pregnant.
It is also not known whether phentermine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a
nursing baby. Do not take phentermine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a
baby.
Do not give this medication to anyone younger than 16 years old without the advice
of a doctor.
Phentermine may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was
prescribed for. Phentermine should never be shared with another person, especially
someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a
secure place where others cannot get to it.
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