Adipex-P must be used with diet and exercise to achieve results.
Doctors prescribe phentermine hydrochloride for short-term use in obese patients who are trying to lose weight. Gate Pharmaceuticals manufactures it under the brand name of Adipex-P. The drug helps obese patients by providing an appetite suppressant effect, as well as increased metabolism and heart rate.
Function
According to Gate Pharmaceuticals, Adipex-P is chemically and pharmacologically related to amphetamines. Adipex-P suppresses appetite and has an effect on the metabolism. However, it also increases blood pressure, which can be dangerous for obese individuals who already have hypertension (high blood pressure).
Considerations
Adipex-P works for patients who have exogenous obesity, which means obesity caused by excess food intake. Adipex-P doesn't treat endogenous obesity, which means obesity that results from a physical abnormality. To be labeled obese, a person must have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.
Benefits
According to a study published by the Yonsei University College of Medicine in 2006, "...there was also a statistically significantly greater mean reduction in both body weight and waist circumference in phentermine-treated subjects to subjects in placebo group..." Another study by the National Task Force on the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity found that subjects who took phentermine (as both hydrochloride and as resin) over a 36-week study lost 26-28 pounds while those in the placebo group lost 11 pounds. Therefore, Adipex-P has been proven to increase weight loss in patients who diet and exercise versus diet and exercise alone. It may also make the weight loss seem easier, since it decreases appetite, which cuts down on the psychological stress caused by the urge to cheat on a diet.
Misconceptions
Adipex-P does not cause weight loss, per se. Its effects work in several ways that increase the likelihood of weight loss. For instance, its appetite suppressant function curbs the patient's appetite. However, the patient still must choose whether or not to stop eating when full or to abstain from eating when bored or emotional. Likewise, the increased metabolism caused by the drug will work better if the patient exercises regularly rather than staying sedentary and hoping that the increased metabolism alone will result in significant weight loss.
Warning
According to the Gate Pharmaceuticals prescribing information for Adipex-P, it should not be used by minors under 16 years of age; pregnant or nursing women; people who take MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors), SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or people who have advanced arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, moderate to severe hypertension, hyperthyroidism, glaucoma, agitated states or patients with a history of drug abuse. Adipex-P belongs to the amphetamine family and is thus considered addictive.
Adipex-P can cause primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), a rare but often fatal lung disease, if used in combination with fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine. It has also caused valvular heart disease, a serious condition that primarily affects the mitral, aortic and/or tricuspid valves of the heart.
Other, less serious side effects include heart palpitation, tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, overstimulation, restlessness, dizziness, insomnia, euphoria, dysphoria, tremor, headache, dryness of the mouth, unpleasant taste, diarrhea, constipation, urticaria, impotence and changes in libido.
