How Phentermine Helps Suppress Appetite and Helps You Lose Weight

Weight loss injections like tirzepatide (brand name Mounjaro®) and semaglutide (brand name Wegovy®) are the newest medications on the market to help people reach their weight goals. Though effective, they aren’t the only weight management prescriptions available.

At Legacy Health and Wellness Clinic, our skilled preventive care physician, Dr. Ifeoma Ogbonna, offers a comprehensive weight management program that includes all the tools you need to reach your weight goals. In addition to weight loss injections, we also offer the weight loss medication phentermine.

In this month’s blog, we want to tell you about phentermine and how it helps with weight loss. 

About phentermine

Phentermine has been helping people drop unwanted pounds for decades. It was first approved for use as a weight management medication in the United States in 1959 for people ages 17 and older. 

But it’s only FDA-approved for short-term use, or no more than 12 weeks. This restriction is to prevent dependence on the drug. Despite having limitations in length of usage, phentermine is one of the most common medications prescribed for weight loss.

How phentermine works

How does phentermine work? Phentermine is in a class of drugs called anorectics, or appetite suppressants. It suppresses your appetite by increasing certain chemicals in the brain that make you not feel hungry or feel full soon after eating. 

By controlling your appetite, phentermine makes it easier for you to stick to your reduced-calorie diet so you eat less and can achieve your weight goals. Though results vary, this weight management prescription can help you lose 3-8% of your body weight. 

Like any other weight loss medication, phentermine works best when combined with a balanced eating plan and exercise program.

Can phentermine help me?

Phentermine is a popular weight management drug, but it’s not the right medication for everyone. We only prescribe weight loss medications for patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher or a BMI 27 or higher if you have a weight-related health problem like Type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol.

We don’t recommend phentermine for any patient with a history of heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, or glaucoma. 

Because it’s a stimulant, phentermine also causes side effects you may find unpleasant, like headaches, difficulty sleeping, or feelings of nervousness or restlessness.

Phentermine is available as a tablet or capsule. Depending on your dose, you may take this medication by mouth 30 minutes before each meal (lower dose) or once a day (higher dose).

Phentermine suppresses your appetite so you eat less and lose weight. Are you having a hard time reaching your weight goals with diet and exercise? Let us help. We can create a plan that gives you all the tools you need to succeed. 

Call our office in Cedar Hill, Texas, or book an appointment online today. We can even meet through telehealth.