Overview Of Phentermine

Phentermine is a medication prescribed on a short-term basis for only a few weeks. It is intended for use by obese patients, those with a body mass index of thirty or higher, who have not been able to lose weight with diet and exercise alone. First developed in the late 1950s, this medicine is the most commonly prescribed weight loss drug in the United States. Doctors will conduct a physical exam to determine if the patient has weight-related health issues that taking this medication can improve. They will check the patient's blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose measurements. They may also run tests to check the patient's cardiovascular health.

Many patients who take phentermine as their weight loss medication are often asked to follow a doctor-approved weight loss diet. They will often have a specific exercise regimen for weight loss as well. This helps ensure that their weight loss treatment is balanced and healthy. It also ensures that they can stop taking phentermine for weight loss at the appropriate time. Of course, patients must first understand how this medication works.

Medication Class

The active ingredient in phentermine is phentermine hydrochloride. This ingredient is known as a sympathomimetic amine anorectic. The anorectic part of this medication refers to its ability to suppress an individual's appetite. Thus, many patients will hear phentermine classified as an appetite suppressant. The other portion of this medication class, sympathomimetic amine, means that this drug affects the central nervous system. Overall, this means that phentermine affects the part of an individual's brain that controls hunger. Thus, patients on this medication often feel full on less food.

Continue reading to learn more about this medication, how it works, and the forms that it comes in next.