Phentermine Review

Phendimetrazine | Phentermine | Rimonabant | Xenical and Alli

Phentermine

(trade names Apidex-P, Fastin, Ionamin and Oby-trim)

Phentermine has been available as a safe prescription weight loss drug for more than 40 years. It became a household name in 1997 when doctors began widely prescribing it in combination with fenfluramine. But the fen-phen cocktail ultimately was linked to serious heart-value problems and the fenfluramine half, which was implicated as the troublemaker, was pulled from the market.

Phentermine continues to be used as an appetite suppressant. The drug accounts for about half of all weight-loss prescriptions, in part because it’s significantly cheaper than the other major FDA approved diet drugs, Meridia and Xenical. Insurance companies typically don’t cover diet drugs.

Ganes Chemicals is the only U.S. manufacturer left that makes the raw material used to produce Phentermine. It takes several months to make this raw material. This fact has contributed to periodic shortages (and accompanying rapid price increases) of phentermine, most recently during 1999. Due to the 1999 shortage it was estimated that prices soared ten-fold.

Phentermine, half of the controversial weight-loss combination fen-phen that was on the market in 1996-1997, is back, but this time it’s being combined with popular antidepressants to help people lose weight.

Although the phentermine-antidepressant cocktail has produced anecdotal reports of massive weight loss, it has also raised concerns because there aren’t long-term studies on safety and effectiveness. In addition, the combinations aren’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration and are strongly discouraged by some antidepressant makers.

"The Future of the treatment of obesity is going to be the use of combinations of drugs," says Richard L. Atkinson, professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and president of the American Obesity Association.

Now, a handful of doctors have begun combining phentermine with other drugs, notably popular antidepressants such as Prozac, Effexor, and Celexa. Side effects can include dry mouth, insomnia, headaches, and constipation. The drug combinations are considered an "off label" use and aren’t sanctioned by the FDA.

The Cost

Phentermine is taken once per day, with a typical cost of $30-40 per month. This diet drug, which has been used for decades, originally had a limitation of 12-20 weeks. However, today it is commonly used for much longer periods with no problem. Many bariatricians use it with their patients for as long as several years. Some states may have limits, however. Adipex may be slightly more costly than other brand names of Phentermine (Fastin, Ionamin, etc.).

The above prices are for "traditional" prescriptions obtained after an in-person visit with your physician. Internet pharmacies generally charge higher prices, since they are also selling the "convenience" of obtaining these drugs without a visit to your doctor. This is a practice that will be coming under greater scrutiny by Congress in the near future. It is a very dangerous practice and is not advocated by BestDietForMe.com analysts and many others. Many feel that it is simply not possible to adequately evaluate a person’s complete health status over the phone or by filling out a brief survey on the Internet, for the purpose of prescribing medications.

Phendimetrazine | Phentermine | Rimonabant | Xenical and Alli

Weight Loss Surgery | Exercise & Weight Loss | Clothing & Weight Loss | Diet Reviews

Diabetes & Weight Loss | Pregnancy & Weight Gain | Smoking Cessation & Dieting | Dieting for a Wedding

Diets & Medical Conditions | Diet Food Home Delivery Services | Self Improvement & Diet | Food Allergies & Weight Loss

The information on this web site is intended for information purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Before starting any weight loss program, it is recommended that you consult your physician or other health care professional.

This page last updated: 2/27/2007

About Us | About Our Service | Testimonials | Site Map

Advertising | Syndicated Research | Privacy | Legal Disclaimer

email this site to a friend | Bookmark this page