Phentermine Side Effects
Phentermine (Fastin, Adipex) side effects parallel those of its drug class, the amphetamines.
Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system results in an increased heart rate and blood pressure. Other nervous system side effects are increasing sleeplessness, plus increased restlessness and excitement as the dose is increased.
Other Phentermine side effects include dryness of the mouth, disruption of normal gut motility, bladder dysfunction and changes in libido. The dosage of this drug should be tapered off before stopping therapy. An abrupt withdrawal of the drug can precipitate depression and fatigue — as the body becomes dependent on its stimulatory effects.
It also produces psychological dependence on the drug. Individuals who have been known to abuse drugs should not be given Phentermine. Chronic abuse of Phentermine produces easily recognizable symptoms like irritability, sleeplessness, over-activity and personality changes. In instances when the drug dose has been increased many times, severe disruption of normal thought processes have occurred — not unlike that seen in schizophrenia.
What about Phentermine overdose?
Due to over-stimulation of the nervous system, overdosage results in symptoms such as mental confusion, hallucinations and panic states. Other symptoms are exaggeration of the side effects on the heart and the brain. Fatal overdose results in convulsions. The danger of an overdose can be easily prevented by watching out for the known side effects and by being supervised by a physician.
Phentermine toxicity is treated by symptomatic therapy. Phentermine capsules that have not yet been absorbed from the gut can be removed by inducing vomiting and a stomach wash. A hospital admission with supportive therapy including sedation and antihypertensive drugs may be needed to control the hyperactivity of the nervous system and rise in blood pressure.
Given this wide spectrum of Phentermine side-effects, the indication to initiate and continue drug therapy needs to be strictly evaluated in each case. This is not aspirin we’re talking about here.
Any individual taking Phentermine should have enough awareness to recognize indicators of adverse effects and drug complications. A close monitoring for the known side-effects is also warranted.
