Has anyone ever heard of, or used, phentermine?

A friend of mine got her doctor to prescribe this diet drug to her and she isn't severely obese (She was 5'7" 180 lbs). She lost 15 lbs in a month by exercising Monday - Fridayand taking phentermine. It's an appetite suppressant and made her eat less.

Anyone ever taken it?

Yeah I got it back in Sept 2006 off the internet (I live in the UK so got it from the States). It worked. But I got all the side effects that are common with it. I only used it for 2 weeks for that reason - but I lost a stone. I didnt exercise though. Naturally, because I had not educated myself in regard to nutrition, sensible diet and exercise - I put the weight back on (but I think it was also due to huge portions when I went to orlando for my vacation...). Without phent, I have managed to lose 36 pounds in four months by being sensible and I am keeping it off.

Willpower is stronger and healthier - and free.

Good rule of thumb, if you diet includes the use of a pill or supplement to help you lose weight, you probably won't keep it off.  Not saying that its like this for everyone, but for most. 

If the companies that made these supplements and pills where to create something that miraculously worked and kept the weight off.  Then everyone would use it and all these major diet companies would be out of a job, because there goes there market...  The same can be said for medication.

You need to read this first

Phentermine Side Effects

SIDE EFFECTS: Side effects of phentermine include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dry mouth, constipation, an unpleasant taste, hives, impotence, palpitations, high blood pressure, and fast heart rates (palpitations). Central nervous system side effects include hyperactivity, insomnia, restlessness, tremor, and dizziness. Phentermine, especially when combined with fenfluramine, has been associated with high pressures in the pulmonary arteries (pulmonary hypertension) and defects in heart valves, both serious complications. Physical and psychological dependence may occur with the long-term use of phentermine. A withdrawal reaction, which includes excessive drowsiness, fatigue, tremors and depression may occur after prolonged use.

yum...

I'm feeling a bit drowsy reading this.....but I think it had more to do with getting up early and chopping on a stump....

There used to be a certain class of doctors that prescribed amphetamines (edit-oops - as sfred says below, they'd write prescriptions to anyone) to dieters, too.

I had a friend who bought phentermine from a diet clinic.  She lost a lot of weight because it enabled her to eat very little.  She did not keep it off an then got into the yo yo cycle of taking the pills losing weight stopping gaining weight then taking the pills again etc..

 

She now suffers from an irregular heartbeat at appears to be permanent and cannot exercise without palpitations.  She does not attribute this heart defect to the phentermine but it seems to me in view of the side effects listed above it is the probable cause.

My advice is to steer clear.

it is an anorexigenic, amphetamine like diet pill.  it is a class IV substance as opposed to a class II as an amphetamine would be.  so there is less addictiveness but it is a controlled substance carrying that risk.
much like speed it kills the appetite and gives you more energy.  the result is  much easier; less food in more energy out --> and weight loss.  of course this can be done without the pill the pill just makes it much easier to do.  (i personally think they speed the metabolism a bit - i believe if you read the pdr it is only slightly).

years ago i took them from a nyc diet doc who RX'd them to anyone (meaning people who where normal weight).  they worked fast but i plateaued at a thin weight and was still on them.  first time stopping them i gained most of the weight back.  i did it again and got thin but this time after stopping them i continued to eat similarly and kept the weight off.  it was years ago and not the most healthy thing but they do work as far as appetite suppression.  I also enjoyed the extra energy.  side effects that i most noticed where some insomnia and headaches.  dry mouth and unpleasnt taste also.

if anything i will remember the one thing that diet doctor said to always remember:  FRUITS SALADS And VEGETABLES.  probabally the only healthy advice that quack had to say, after all he also advocated a 900 calorie a day diet in conjunction with these pills.

keep in mind i believe the Physicians Desk Reference indicates that the pills are for people who are 30% overweight.

I took them recently because my weight loss had plateaud for a good deal of time. I was working out a lot and eating well and still no results. I had already lost 50 pounds bu tI was stuck. I took them for about 8 weeks and it got me going again. I didn't have the horrible side effects. I was able to keep doing hard workouts with no problems. I won't be gaining the weight back because I know how to maintain my weight. It was a great wayt o just get things moving again. I still have about 15 pounds I want to lose and I might go back to the pills if I'm struggling to get it off. But I wouldn't use them for long long periods of time because I don't think you'll learn how to keep weight off.