Heart problems from phentermine

[asupermoma3]

I have benn taking phen since October, I did lose over 40 lbs since then, but was also stupid thinking that phen was safe. I was just diagnosed yesterday after wearing a holter heart monitor for the past 48 hours, that I developed a sinus arriythmia aka sick sinus. My heart skips beats and beats irregular with every breath I take, Some people can have this with no symptoms, but when the symptoms arise, it has become severe. They also discovered I have a low heart rate, this combined with the sick sinus spells danger! My heart could at any time skip a beat, and not start again. I go see the cardiologist tomorrow, to discuss the pacemaker I have to have implanted in my heart, to regulate my beats. All my doctors say this is definately due to the phentermine, being that i had no problems with my heart even right before starting phen. My symptoms are....Palpitations, dizziness or light headedness, sharp chest pains lasting only a few seconds, anxiety, shortness of breath, arm pain....any and all of these symptoms should be reported to your doctor right away. I wish you all luck with your weight loss, please just be smart, and don't be like me, who thought it couldn't happen to you. I have 3 small kids that I stay home with, and It scares the hell out of me that I now have a physical heart problem!

[Erdos]

Sorry to hear that and best of luck to you!!

However, I find it hard to believe that phen alone caused these problems. Phen just speeds up the heart, so if you already had a bad heart, then of course this would make the muscle weaker.

The component of phen which speeds up the heart is the chemical that they use in ADHD medicine.

I wonder how old you are also? Most doctors do not give phen to people older then 25 or 30 for these reasons. If you already have high blood pressure or the like, then by using phen your problems can get much more worse and serious!

Anyway, again best of luck and I will keep you in my prayers!

Godspeed

[asupermoma3]

I am 26 years old. Never had any health problems before in my life, I've done alot of research on this for the last 24 hours, and found that phentermine is very likely to cause arrithymias, and some can be temporary and some not.

[lkat78]

An "arrhythmia" is nothing more than an abnormal heartbeat...you can be walking down the street and get scared by a car and have a sinus arrhythmia, which means an irregular beat originating from the sinus node which is where it’s supposed to come from. As an EKG student I had been on and off phen for over a year, had an EKG and aside from my heart rate being on the higher side of normal, all looked great. (I later found that after I was on vacation from my job for a week my BP and rate dropped substantially, even while taking the phen.) Yes there are always precautions to be taken, I recommend that anyone taking phen or any type of stimulant monitor their blood pressure and heart rate regularly. Avoid caffeine and any other stimulants that could affect blood pressure and heart rate. I also take 1/2 the dosage in the morning then 1/2 around noon, both about 30mins before I eat, and NO caffeine.

I'm sorry you've had any problems, make sure you’re Dr is aware you were taking the phen. Thanks for posting about your experience, and I hope everything turns out ok for you!

[IBON4IT]

Thank you for sharing your very negative experience with us. I hope you are still watching this board because I would like to know your age. I've been reading that this is a "young person's drug". I've also read that phetermine isn't recommended beyond a 3 WEEK course of treatment. My doctor is usually quite conservative with perscriptions but has given me a script for a 3 month supply and I'm 43 years old. Other than being moderately overweight I am in excellent health and would much rather be fat than lose my health! Shoot, diets DO work, when you stick to them. Did you have any heart problems or symptoms before starting on this drug? I hope you have a very positive outcome. Your proactive approach will help you. Thanks again.

[etadpole06]

My weight Dr says Phen does not cause those kinds of problems, that the old stuff.. fen-phen did.. phentermine has been around since the 50's and I never heard of it causing those kinds of problems, as for it being a young peoples drug.. well someone should have told me LOL I am 48 and have been on it for nearly a yr with not one problem.Well I take that back.. the first night I had a problem.. I swear I sat up all night and I think I could actually hear the little animals outside gathering their nuts !LOL!

[finally slim]

Weight docs like to tell you it is fine. It is for people who have a BMI of 30+. I lost 35 lbs in 3 months, and had 3 seizures attributed to Phentermine. I now have not taken Phentermine since December and have put on 10 lbs. This is a small price to pay to keep my family safe. I also have the diagnosis on my health record of amphetemine induced seizures.

It can cause heart damage. Anyone who tells you it doesn't, is not telling the truth.

A final note is after I told the "weight doc" my experiences, he was still willing for me to continue on Phentermine, with a BMI of 18.

Be careful. I am not one of the young ones, was 40 when I started, BUT I do know that this stuff is dangerous, it is a quick fix and should only be used to jump start a life change plan.

[firephen]

In general, someone who is moderately overweight is absolutely NOT in excellent health. Obesity is a guaranteed health demise. Phentermine may increase the risk of a heart problem, but obesity GUARANTEES the risk of a problem. Phentermine, although risky, protects you from something much riskier -- obesity. Those of us who are overweight do NOT "have our health"... we might think we do, but obesity kills slowly and certainly.

[herrweightloss]

I see this thread was started in 2007 - and while I don't doubt heart-related complications (they are listed everywhere) there are serious side effects with almost any medication out there. If this was the norm, why are there not many many more posts of people reporting the same problem?

[everhopeful30]

[QUOTE=herrweightloss;992165]I see this thread was started in 2007 - and while I don't doubt heart-related complications (they are listed everywhere) there are serious side effects with almost any medication out there. If this was the norm, why are there not many many more posts of people reporting the same problem?[/QUO

if you need a more current post, before i took Phentermine i was healthy no heart problems ever!! now I am being tested for pph..I have sharp pains in my arms, I can't even walk up the stairs without my heart pounding out of my chest. 2 doctors have said that Phentermine causes pph!!

[samanthanadine]

asupermoma3- I am curious to know if you were under doctor care and if you were evaluated both before and during the proccess of taking Phen or did you buy online?

[doublethumb]

Phentermine contains an addictive psychoactive substance similar to amphetamines. Amphetamines induce anorexant, energising and anti-depressant effects on the brain similar to cocaine acting mainly on the receptors of neurotransmitter dopamine. Side effect of amphetamines in large amounts may include hallucinations and psychosis. Attention: I am saying in large amounts. A normal dose of phentermine is not supposed to give you such problems. However Phentermine should be used under strict medical supervision and when other solutions have not worked. Being obese IS a serious problem, but phentermine does not provide a long term solution as much as anti-depressants are not a long term solution to chronic depression if you do not take them for all of your life. And yes, any dopaminergic substance will speed up your heart rate and is not recommended if you are overly sensitive to such substances, even if your health is healthy. Side effects are very subjective, so report them to your doctors if they bother you a lot.