JourneyLite Physicians has extensive experience with medical weight loss and appetite suppressants. If one of our providers prescribed phentermine for you, it’s important to know how to start your medication and what to watch out for.
First of all, Adipex and phentermine are the exact same drug, Adipex is merely a brand name. Usually our practice will write scripts for phentermine, as it is cheaper and has the same efficacy. The bottle will usually say “Take 1 tablet daily” however there are some things to be aware of when starting out on phentermine!
- Get your prescription filled ASAP, as after 72 hours many pharmacies will not fill phentermine scripts.
- For the first week we recommend taking only a half tablet a day. This helps your body get used to the medication and minimizes the risk of side effect.
- After a week on a half tablet a day, if you haven’t had any side effects then go up to a full tablet daily.
- Since phentermine is a stimulant we recommend monitoring your blood pressure for the first couple of weeks.
- If the top number is over 140, or the bottom number is over 85 please contact the office!
- If you don’t have a blood pressure cuff just go to your nearest pharmacy and use their machine.
- It’s best to take your phentermine around 12 hours prior to bed time.
- If you’re having trouble sleeping, take it a little earlier.
- If you’re struggling with hunger in the evenings and not having any sleep issues, take it a little later.
The most common side effect by far is dry mouth. This can be remedied by drinking lots of fluids, or utilizing OTC dry mouth losenges (such as Biotene). Headaches can also occur when starting the medication, but as long as blood pressure isn’t elevated these will typically fade over a few days. If you experience rare side effects such as chest pain or a rapid heart rate, please stop the medication and call the office immediately, even if after hours.
