Tenuate anyone?

[Bambesi]

Has anyone tried Tenuate? There seems to be a lot more side effects listed under tenuate than for phen but phen is having some bad effects on me and I want to try something else. Has anyone tried it? What side effects did you experience with it? Does anyone know anything about it... i.e. is it an older drug than Phen? Why don't doctors prescribe it more? etc. Thank you!

[EBONY POETESS]

NO I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF TENUATE WHAT BAD SIDE EFFECTS ARE YOYU HAVING AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ON PHEN

[Bambesi]

Hi. THanks for responding. To answer your questions, I have taken phentermine many times over the years but this past time, I am getting some strange chest sensations and also I have to go to the bathroom (#1) constantly. Some literature I have read states that phentermine can cause the pulmonary problems and that is scaring the hell out of me. But I am so out of control with my eating, I really need this help. So I thought that perhaps either Tenuate or Didrex would not have that side effect of possibly causing pulmonary problems and I could try one of those. But I know little about them. I have read the literature on them but first hand experience from someone on here who maybe has tried either one, would be more beneficial. Thanks!

[BridgetJ]

Hi There!

I have tried Tenuate and the first few days were pretty bad. I had chest pain, but it's listed as a side effect and it goes away in a couple of days. This drug only works for about three weeks. They say that about Phen too, but it's really true with Tenuate. If you just need a little short term help it's ok. I had one Dr. tell me he doesn't perscribe it because it's such a short term thing and most people gain the weight right back. I have to say it did supress my hunger for the short time I was on it(4 weeks. It stopped working during week 4).

[Bambesi]

Thanks Bridget for the info. That does help. I may try it but the chest pain thing is really scaring me. I have read only a very few cases where Phenterimine and related drugs have caused primary pulmonary hypertension by themselves (the phen-fen combo really caused it) but some drug fact sheets do list it as a rare side effect of phentermine plus I found one woman online who did suffer from it due to phentermine. You would think I wouldn't even take the chance since I am having some weird chest feelings... but that is how desperate I am to control my eating. Very sad, I know! Thanks again.

[BridgetJ]

I totally understand. I think most people who have had weight problems take chances that are unreasonable. There is just so much pressure to be thin.

On the other hand, I really don't think these chest pains that I am describing have anything to do with PPH. There wasn't any shortness of breath. It was just unpleasant. It lasted two days and then I was fine. Did you mention it to a Dr.?

The drug that has worked best for me was Meridia. It's good for weight loss for about three months and then helps with maintaining. I've had some pretty good results with it. Again, you have to do the research and talk to a Dr., so that you can weigh the pros and cons together. The only side effects I had with Meridia is constipation and it has a slight anti-depressant effect. I've heard that the drug has come under scrutiny lately, so that's why I say you have to do the reseach.

[Bambesi]

Me again. I have not had much luck with any of my doctor's being in favor of taking phentermine so this time, I just got it online and don't even want to bring it up. I did have a psychiatrist at one point (who I was seeing for binge eating disorder and depression) who did agree to prescribe Meridia. I was so excited about starting it. I thought it was going to "save" me. But it did not work for me. I didn't have any negative side effects (my period stopped though) but I didn't lose weight or lose the desire to binge either. The ONLY thing that has worked in curbing my binging is phentermine. And now I am having these chest twinges I'll call them... and I am a bit short of breath at times... like in a steamy shower or when I am talking a lot. I sort of remember feeling this way years ago on phen and stopping and the feeling going away after a few weeks so I am hoping and praying that it is not PPH but just a side effect that will go away when I stop taking them. I just think that doctors or other people who don't know what it is like to be in the grip of binge eating, know how devastating it is to be controlled by food. And how this food addiction is just as damaging to my life as alcohol is to an alcoholic's life. I have tried therapy out the wazoo... different types, different eating disorders centers, I have tried every SSRI out there and more, and nothing has helped me. I have suffered with varieties of eating disorders since I was about 10 years old. It pisses me off that no one really cares about studying the "why" ... the researches are just coming out with new statistics and diets but no one is researching what in our brains makes us addicted to food. Really sad.