{"id":5937,"date":"2019-09-23T10:45:17","date_gmt":"2019-09-23T14:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=5937"},"modified":"2026-03-11T13:47:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T17:47:38","slug":"phentermine-for-weight-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/phentermine-for-weight-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Who can take phentermine for weight loss?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is it safe to take phentermine for weight loss?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Phentermine is a prescription diet pill that suppresses appetite. People who are obese with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg\/m2 or people who have weight-related complications with a BMI of 27 to 29.9 kg\/m2 could benefit from drug treatment like phentermine. Phentermine is effective, generally safe to take short-term (three months) for most people, and inexpensive. It\u2019s important to understand diet pills like phentermine aren\u2019t advised for reasons other than chronic weight management issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is phentermine?<\/h2>\n

Phentermine<\/span><\/a> is the oldest prescription weight-loss pill used today to treat obesity. It\u2019s also the drug that\u2019s most commonly prescribed for this purpose, even though there are newer options on the market.<\/span><\/p>\n

First, it\u2019s popular because it\u2019s effective. Studies have found it can bring about a loss of 5% to 10% of body weight over 12 weeks when taken as part of a treatment plan that includes a low-calorie diet and increased physical activity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Second, it\u2019s inexpensive, according to <\/span>Caroline M. Apovian<\/span><\/a>, MD, a professor at Boston University School of Medicine who specializes in endocrinology, diabetes, nutrition, and weight management. Many insurance companies won\u2019t pay for weight loss medication or treatment, despite <\/span>plenty of research<\/span><\/a> confirming obesity\u2019s health dangers. Phentermine may be the only viable option for people with limited income.<\/span><\/p>\n

Phentermine is available as a generic drug and under the brand names <\/span>Adipex-P<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Lomaira<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Related: <\/b>What is phentermine?<\/b><\/a> | <\/b>Where can I get phentermine?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

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How does phentermine work for weight loss?<\/b><\/h2>\n

In medical lingo, phentermine is an anorectic, which simply means it curbs hunger. It does this, in part, by triggering the release of certain brain chemicals in the area of the hypothalamus that controls appetite, explains <\/span>Karl Nadolsky<\/span><\/a>, MD, a board-certified endocrinologist who specializes in diabetes, metabolism, and obesity at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a Fellow of the American College of Endocrinologists (FACE).<\/span><\/p>\n

Hence, phentermine helps decrease appetite by affecting the central nervous system.<\/span><\/p>\n

How long should you take phentermine?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Phentermine is only approved for short-term use. The long-term safety and effectiveness of phentermine has never been studied\u2014nor will it be, according to Dr. Apovian, who explains that the type of rigorous research necessary would be far too expensive.<\/span><\/p>\n

People taking phentermine typically experience weight loss soon after starting it. Clinical trials have determined that weight loss is greatest in the first weeks of treatment. Each individual experiences weight loss from their baseline weight, which can vary from person to person. One <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> found that over the course of 14 weeks of phentermine treatment, individuals averaged just over 1 pound of weight loss per week.<\/span><\/p>\n

Phentermine dosage<\/b><\/h2>\n

Determining the best phentermine dose for you will depend on many factors. Taking phentermine alone without diet and lifestyle modifications will not likely lead to significant weight loss at any dose. It is difficult to correlate a specific phentermine dose to a specific amount of weight loss because there are so many other factors that are key to successful weight loss, even when taking an anti-obesity drug. A reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity are two very important factors to weight loss. When dieting, every person will do these to a different extent, making it difficult to relate a dose of the drug to an amount of body weight loss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most recent clinical studies performed to evaluate phentermine-related weight loss was in Korea in 2005. This <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> involved 119 obese patients with comorbidities of high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol, and the study followed them for 12 weeks. At the 12-week mark, almost 74% of patients had lost at least 5% of their initial body weight. This weight reduction was not associated with improvements in blood sugar or cholesterol readings. Blood pressure changes were similar when the phentermine group was compared to those who had received placebo, however, those who received phentermine had significantly elevated pulse readings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Phentermine is available in oral capsule dosage forms of 15mg, 30mg, and 37.5mg. There are also phentermine tablets available as 8mg and 37.5mg (equivalent to 30mg of phentermine base). Typical dosing for patients is 15mg to 37.5mg daily and may be taken in divided doses (once, twice, or three times per day), though your healthcare professional will determine the best dose for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adverse events like insomnia, dry mouth, and dizziness may increase with higher doses of phentermine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Is phentermine safe?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Phentermine has been considered a controversial appetite suppressant<\/a>. The diet pill has a risky reputation for two main reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Phentermine is an amphetamine-like medication.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s chemically similar to amphetamines. So, the <\/span>United States Food and Drug Administration<\/span><\/a> (FDA) classifies it as a Schedule IV drug (i.e., a federally controlled substance), because of concerns for potential abuse or addiction. Dr. Nadolsky points out tha phentermine is <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> an amphetamine. \u201cPhentermine appears to be safe\u2014even for long-term use,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd in my practice, I\u2019ve never seen or heard of a problem with phentermine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Phentermine was half of the drug duo fen-phen.<\/span><\/h3>\n

In the 1990s, physicians prescribed phentermine with fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine, a pairing nicknamed fen-phen. Fen-phen became a miracle weight-loss craze until the FDA realized fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine were causing serious heart problems and pulled them from the market in 1997. Phentermine was not determined to be linked to the more serious side effects and cardiac events and, therefore, it was allowed to remain on the market as a short-term monotherapy for obesity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your healthcare provider will consider your cardiac risk when deciding if phentermine is the right medication for you. If you have a medical history of irregular heartbeat, pulmonary hypertension, uncontrolled blood pressure, or the presence of other cardiovascular diseases, you may not be a candidate for phentermine treatment. If you are taking phentermine and develop any of these conditions, you should stop the drug and seek medical help immediately. Your doctor may consider the presence of other risk factors as well before prescribing phentermine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Phentermine side effects<\/b><\/h2>\n

Serious adverse effects are rare. The most common side effects of phentermine include:<\/span><\/p>\n