Warnings and Precautions Prior to Taking Phentermine

Due to the increasing rate of people becoming overweight, there are a lot of pharmaceutical companies that manufacture weight loss supplements to help in losing weight and one of them is Phentermine. Phentermine is a short term prescription medication that is used to treat exogenous obesity.

Phentermine is not used as a standalone treatment for obesity but rather as a supplement to balanced diet and regular exercise. However, prior to prescription of Phentermine, a patient should undergo an intensive medical history to determine if there are conditions present that could be aggravated due to intake of Phentermine. It is also the duty of the patient to inform the medical professional so that possible complications can be prevented.

Here are some of the conditions that patients should report if they have so that Phentermine dosage may be considered:

Glaucoma

Diabetes, because of the possible drug interactions with the medications used to treat diabetes. Since Phentermine is an appetite suppressant, it may cause weakness among diabetics because of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels.

Chronic hypertension or high blood pressure

Any heart ailments such as coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, heart attack, and presence of irregular heart rhythms or palpitations.

Hyperactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism because this condition causes increased metabolic rate and presence of cardiac arrhythmias

Alcoholism and drug abuse, because Phentermine can cause dependence.

Pregnancy and lactation because the drug may be passed on to the baby

Aside from these conditions, patients taking Phentermine should be aware of the warnings and precautions prior to taking the drug. Here are some warnings and precautions prior to taking Phentermine:

A patient should be aware of the early manifestations of primary pulmonary hypertension. Here are some of the symptoms that patients should immediately inform their healthcare provider: chest pain and difficulty in breathing, weakness and easy fatigability, fainting or dizziness, and cyanosis or bluish discoloration of the lips and skin.

For patients with hypertension and heart problems, you should know that Phentermine can cause side effects such as increased heart rate and blood pressure.
Because Phentermine is chemically related to amphetamines, it has a tendency to be abused and patients can manifest amphetamine-like symptoms. It can also cause drug dependence if used for a long time.