Are you looking for ways to lose weight? Sometimes a doctor may prescribe a medication to help you lose weight. Phendimetrazine is one such medication. But this is not a magic pill that you can just take and lose weight. So today, let's talk about this medication, what it does, how to use it, and the things you need to be careful about.
What is Phendimetrazine? Simply put...
Simply put, Phendimetrazine is a drug that reduces your appetite. It tricks your brain into thinking you're not hungry, which makes it easier to control the amount of food you eat.
But it doesn't work alone. Doctors usually recommend this medication in conjunction with a healthy, reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise . It's often given as a short-term treatment. That means it's not something you have to take for the rest of your life.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before starting this medication, it is very important to give your doctor a complete description of your health condition. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the conditions listed below.
- If you have agitation or nervousness .
- If you have diabetes .
- If you have an eye disease called glaucoma .
- If you have any type of heart disease .
- If you have high blood pressure .
- If you have a history of drug abuse or addiction .
- If you have kidney disease .
- If you have a special lung disease called Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) .
- If you have used an MAOI (e.g., Carbex, Eldepryl, Nardil) antidepressant within the past 14 days .
- If you are taking other stimulant medicines for attention disorders, weight loss, or sleeplessness.
- If you have thyroid disease .
- If you have an allergic reaction to Phendimetrazine or any other medicine, food, or dye.
- If you are trying to get pregnant or are already pregnant .
- If you are a breastfeeding mother .
How exactly do you use this medicine?
This is like any other medicine, the most important thing is to use it exactly as the doctor says.
- Take this pill with a glass of water .
- It is generally recommended to take this about an hour before a main meal .
- Do not take more than the amount prescribed by your doctor, or take it more often than prescribed.
- Most importantly: Do not stop taking this medication suddenly. Doing so can cause severe side effects. If your doctor decides to stop taking the medication, he or she will do so by gradually reducing the dose (tapering the dose). Follow those instructions exactly.
- If you are giving this medicine to children, you should talk to a pediatrician about it. Special care may be needed.
What to do if you overdose? (Overdosage)
If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, go to a hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice. Treat this as an emergency.
Remember, this medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not share it with anyone else for any reason. It can be dangerous.
Interactions with medications
Some medications can cause problems when taken with Phendimetrazine, so it is very important to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking.
| Possible drug interactions with Phendimetrazine | |
|---|---|
| Do not take this medicine with anything. | |
| MAOI type medication | Antidepressants such as Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, Parnate. |
| Some medicines for colds | Medicines containing pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine. |
| Other stimulant drugs | Other medications for attention deficit disorder, weight loss, or insomnia. |
| Other medications | Drugs such as Procarbazine and Sibutramine. |
| This may also interact with medication (tell your doctor) | |
| Medications for mental illness | Some medications given for conditions such as depression and anxiety. |
| Other medications | Linezolid (an antibiotic), a medicine for diabetes, a medicine for high blood pressure. |
This list is not complete. So tell your doctor about all the medications you take (including vitamins, herbal remedies, and supplements). Also tell them if you smoke or drink alcohol.
Things to be careful about when taking medicine
- Difficulty breathing: If you suddenly feel like you're having trouble breathing while doing your normal activities, tell your doctor immediately.
- Sleep: This medication may cause sleepiness. Therefore, do not take this medication within 6 hours of bedtime . It is also a good idea to get into the habit of going to bed at the same time every day. Reduce caffeine-containing beverages like coffee and tea at night.
- Diet and Exercise: As we mentioned earlier, to get the best results from this medicine, a healthy diet and exercise are essential. Imagine that you start taking this medicine, but at the same time you start walking briskly for 30 minutes in the morning, and you start eating more vegetables and fruits by reducing your rice portion at lunch. Only then will you be able to get the maximum results from this medicine.
- Drowsiness/Dizziness: This medication may make you feel drowsy or dizzy. Therefore, avoid activities that require alertness, such as driving or operating machinery, until you know how this medication affects you. Stand up slowly when getting up quickly or from a sitting position.
- Alcohol: Drinking alcohol can increase dizziness and drowsiness. Therefore, avoid alcohol completely while taking this medication.
What are the possible side effects of the medication?
Like any medicine, this one can have side effects. Some are serious, some are common.
| Type of side effect | Examples |
|---|---|
| Serious side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue. |
| Heart rate and pressure | Feeling like your heart is beating fast, chest pain, increased blood pressure. |
| Mental changes | Severe restlessness, irritability, depression, seeing/hearing things that are not there (hallucinations). |
| Other serious symptoms | Difficulty breathing, vision changes, seizures, signs of a stroke (numbness in the face/arm/leg, difficulty speaking). |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Digestive system | Dry mouth, constipation or diarrhea, nausea, stomach upset. |
| Other | Headache, sweating. |
How to protect medicine?
Keep this medicine out of the reach of children. This medicine can be abused, so keep it in a safe place to prevent theft . If you have any unused pills, mix them with something like cat litter or ground coffee grounds, put them in a tightly sealed container, and throw them away. Do not use expired medicine.
Take-Home Message
- Phendimetrazine is a weight loss and appetite suppressant. It should only be used under the supervision of a doctor.
- For best results, this medication must be combined with a healthy diet and exercise.
- It is extremely important to tell your doctor about any other illnesses you have and all other medications you are taking.
- If you experience serious side effects such as chest pain or difficulty breathing, seek medical advice immediately.
- Avoid stopping this medication suddenly. Always follow your doctor's instructions.


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