SIDE EFFECTS

[Lokoh]

It seems like there are a lot of us experiencing very similar side effects and some that are experiencing less common or less mentioned ones. I thought it might be helpful to post our experience with phen side effects and anything that you have found that helps to "cure" them so people can compare and relate.

What noticeable side effects have you experienced while on phen?
-Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep -I take nyquil or melatonin

-"Phen rage" short and snappy - no physical cure found

-Over emotional (of course this could be due to many things..but I cried while looking at nuts at the grocery store yesterday b/c of a song playing on the intercom)

-Loss of appetite/inability to think of food -positive side effect but must remind myself to eat small meals throughout the day

[sexyjenn08]

My side effects....
-bad headache
-rise in blood pressure
-short tempered. irritated very easily. very emotional over the stupidest things!!!!...( Lokoh...I completely identify with the crying in the grocery store at the nuts because of a song!!!)
-not sleeping very well.

I took 1 pill every morning for a week or so and my headache was so bad and it would not go away no matter what i took. Also evening time was HORRIBLE!!! I am pretty sure it was because my blood pressure was high.....I had to go lay down because I felt soooooo bad. Saturday I only took a half a pill and Sunday I took nothing. I felt great yesterday. This morning I took only a 1/2 pill.......maybe my body can only handle 1/2pill a day.

[bizymomma]

I too had nearly unbearable headaches then I doubled my water intake (after posting a thread for solutions on why I have headaches ) after increasing my water I havent had a single headache that was until yesterday due to my son screaming in my ear every time the Giants made a play lol

Some of my side effects:
- irritability
**I found just admitting Im going to have it and try not to be snappy helps, I just assume I am going to get home and be upset about something so I try to focus on every little positive thing on the way home....the weather, the music on the radio, cooking, or my favorite show coming on....and when Im bombarded with my 2 teens and their multiple issues I keep screaming in the back of my head remember how much you missed them all day!!!
-dry mouth
***sugar free gum all day and lots of water (this is also a good side effect - it reminds us to drink all day)
-lack of hunger / forgetting to eat
***I have a little kitchen timer in my office that reminds me every 2 hours and I eat more so out of habit than hunger, which is good for me because that way I dont wait until I am so hungry I dont think about what Im putting in my mouth
-high blood pressure
***the more Ive been working out though and the more weight I loose the lower the BP gets
-Constipation (at first)
***this was a problem at first until I realized it was a given and started taking a herbal laxative regularly

those are my main issues.....
If anyone has different approaches theyve used let me know

[dalako]

I have had similar experiences. Here's what I have found to be helpful for me.
The headaches stopped when I doubled my water. I know the irratibility stops when I eat a little something. So I have learned that when I snap, I know stop and think, "When did I eat something last?" and then it just have a little snack like 5-10 grapes, or a couple pieces of broccoli or carrots, or even a 1/2 of an apple. Just to keep going. That seems to help alot and the irratibility goes away. Dry Mouth I just drink more water.... I've noticed if I don't have aleast 42 oz of water per day it's really bad... Constipation well I am still working on that one... I know the last time i was on Phen, I went to walmart and bought a natural Veg Laxitive and that helped alot. I just took 1 pill a day and it wasn't painful at all like the others...

Hope this helps

[MelsMom]

My symptons:

Dry Mouth - Gum is helping.

Lack of hunger and/or forgeting to eat - I'm forcing myself to eat.

Difficulty sleeping - I wake up every 2 or 3 hours. It seems like everytime I rollover I wake up and I was never like that before.

[redheadohyah]

I am so happy I have this group. I was thinking something was wrong with me. lol

My major problem is my mood, I have been in the BEST mood the past few days and then today I sware I hate everything about me and around me..UUgggg.
I cry just walking to the bathroom.

I do however have a question for you guys. Is anyone else experiencing EXTREME sexual urges. I don't want to offend anyone but I have never been this sexually aroused in my life. Trust me I am not one bit bothered by this, although I am single which ****s but I was wondering if it's a normal side affect.

Also, It makes me sick to eat meat. I love meat and eat it almost everyday but for about 2 weeks now the thought of it makes me gag.

Let me know.

Cherie

[MoitvatedMomma]

I have the dry mouth, but it is good because it makes me drink sooo much water, which I usually don't.

Sleepless, but this is gettting better

I am actually a much NICER, CALMER person on them which is wierd. The couple of weeks before I started I was really, really depressed, like I was thinking about getting some help, I was really edgy with my kids and could barely get out of bed on the weekends. But I think I feel better now because I KNOW I am doing something to make all of our lives better.

Dry eyes, my contacts seem to bother me more than they used to.

And lastly, being itchy, but this seems to be getting better, and I am going to start the scrubby cocoa butter regime I saw in another post.

[MoitvatedMomma]

Cherie...I hear you on the *ahem* urges....I am single too...but the other day my ex dropped by to see the kids and I was like, hey, hey...I kinda hate you...BUT

I restrained myself, but I was not "physically" happy about it.

I also have weird cravings, like the urge to eat junk food all the time, strange & gross stuff that I don't normally eat. I think it is the fight or flight mechanism that phen puts out in my brain, but I want to eat like burgers or cheap pizza, onion rings, etc. But I think first and am pretty good about it. I usually don't want it once I think about it or can just take one bite and throw the rest away. It is very strange. But I resist because the first time I did phen I gave in and would eat like 1 bite of a cheese burger, half a taco, etc but that would be it all day. I think that is why I didn't do so well, and I gained it all back when I went off (the whopping 14 lbs I lost) This time I am making a lifestyle change.

[dhenryhand]

Ladies that have the increased sexual drives and don't have a boyfriend to relieve that stress...wait until you get one...you might just break it off...I mean off.

I was lacking in that area before I started Phen. I had just had my birth control switch because I thought it was the pills...well I have since switch back to my previous pills and the urges just keep comming. My husband has never been more happier. He use to talk trash to me now, I talk all the trash. He use to be on top, now I get mad when I can't get on top.

Ladies, I think I can ride a bull with no hands now...ok...maybe with one hand...I lied...two hands and a rope.

Hope you got a good laugh from this??? I love you guys here!!!

[sexyjenn08]

LMAO!!! TOO FUNNY!! I too think I am experiencing the "urges". I have been very insecure with myself for awhile now. I hate my body and i hate for my hubby to see it...touch it...etc. BUT.......for the last 3 or 4 days....I'm all about the...is it bedtime yet (wink wink)!!!!!

[dhenryhand]

sexyjenn08: Let the Tiger loose. Go for it. Blow his mind. Put him in a coma. Go for that bull ride. Act like a stripper gone wide...don't listen to me I will get you in trouble!!!

[MoitvatedMomma]

LMAO! Coming from SD...and knowing tons of bull riders....well, nothing is cuter than a bull rider's butt!

One of my main goals is to feel better about myself so I can "put myself out there" without worry about my cellulite showing thru my pants! Watchout to the first man I like, I hope he is taking his vitamins!

[dsluv]

im jealous ladies! if anything, my *** drive has decreased. i do however experience amazing mood swings. ive been crying like crazy the last few days or so.

[weighnless]

Wow you guys are crazy!!! I am having a decrease as well which is probably not a bad thing since I broke up with my boyfriend of four years the week after I started the phen! But that is ok because the next time he sees me he will be wonderfing WHY? I also have dry mouth, but I think that my mood is actually better-(though I have cried a few times which can be expected after a breakup) but on the other hand I guess I could look at the better mood as a positive side effect of getting rid of the boyfriend. The eating is also a problem for me I litterally have to make myself eat something everyday.

You women are great!

[fatbutpretty]

One week today I started on phen. I feel like a dry sponge-needing water constantly. I feel dry as a bone. Food turns me off, this is a big first for me. Meat is the worst for me too. I have ate alot of oanges, & bought some turkey to try to choke down. Maybe this is how anorexics feel! We just have to eat to keep the weight coming off.
I love everyone on this site-glad I found you!

[Time4Tea]

HEADACHES during the first week. Possibly unrelated to Phen, but I'm listing it just in case. I was afraid it could be BP, but I checked and my nubers were great. I just took tylenol and waited it out. No headaches after the first week.

DRY MOUTH which has been constant. I drink lots and lots of water and chew sugar free gum. Chapstick and eye drops are great to have around too, Maybe even moisturizing nasal spray. This has really dried me out!

ACNE during the third week. I spot treated with Neutrogena rapid clear and started using moisturizer morning and night, instead of just morning. It did clear up quickly, but it was terrible for that week.

LUMP IN THROAT feeling, difficulty swallowing- Possibly unrelated? I have not found anything that relieves this.

ZERO APPETITE- A good thing, but set a clock if you have to and remember to eat. I have also found it helpful to track my calories at www.fitday.com , as suggested by another member of this site. I've found that if I am not careful, I will eat 600-700 calories a day and call it quits. We need to try to eat a reasonable amount if we want to stay healthy while we lose these lbs.

VERY DRY SKIN flaky, itchy dry, dry, dry. I have found that using a lotion on my legs arms and tummy really helps. I am still searching for a good facial moisturizer. I am using Cerave right now, but am looking for something more effective.

Worth it? ABSOLUTELY.

[Mushy]

Aloha ladies and the occasional gentleman,

my side effects have been the norm.
dry mouth -helps with water intake so totally acceptable for me i was always in a bind to drink water. always too busy to remember.
Constipation - never went regularly anyway (part of my weight gain problem to begin with) but i knotice that i worry more now and even start to feel like im draging when i dont go so i have started drinking smooth move tea every other day.
"UHmmmm Urges"- the depression from my obesity made me not wanna sad for my hubby who just lost two hundred and fifty pounds due to gastric bypass. first time in years that he could. and here i was not wanting too not to mention that he could now see everything involved he was seriously bummed. When the urges hit i was like yee haw!! and he said "we should get skinny more often" direct quote. but i also noted that it also has to do with my emotions being more even (im on phen and wellbutrin)
emotional ups and downs- ask any of my sales people they will tell you that ive always been a ***** (scuse the language) and ive been clinicly depressed for years so at this point i dont care! ill take the ups although when pms hits i do have to seriously work at my coping skills be cause i do want to cry more extremely than i used to.
but the one thing that has been wierd and i thought it was just me because i quit smoking about three years before i started on phen so maybe it was due to that. And my daughter and husband kept accusing me of being insane for going around the house and saying things like what is that smell? but then my daughter (also on phen- wellbutrin- zoloft) who started the program a month after i did got to month three started saying "GAWD WHAT IS THAT SMELL" and i went AH HA!!! YOU HAVE IT TOO its got to be the phen...so our side effect is:
Extreem sensitivity to different smells we both have complained of certain smells in the house or out and my husband says we are crazy.. which we just may be.. but they layed manuer down in some of the trees around the corner .. and when it mixed with the fabrize in our laundry it was horrid.. both of us started complaining of the towels and then our clothes.. it permiated every thing. and for weeks we were taking clothes out and puting them on just to pull them off again because we couldnt stand the smell. I had to limit the people at the office i could stand around be cause all of their perfumes started to smell like aquanet hairspray. my daughter also had the same problem with friends at school. not so much the aquanet but you get the picture. my husband eventually had to stop wearing all clognes (my allergies were on high allert) and i made him switch deoderant too.

EDIT** have the swallowing problem too have almost made mess at a couple of restaurants because i couldnt swallow the bite of food i was chewing .. and chewing and chewing.. water helped but i learned after the third time to just drink . and forget about the food.

hope that wasnt too rambling a response.. nah thats not a side effect ive always been ADD.

[dalako]

the erges are diffinately there! I think thats why I got pregnant the first time on phen! LOL I couldn't contain myself. My hubby on the other hand responses more like.... "Again??? Dang honey!.... OK, Let's go!" And then he has a great night sleep! lol If your single I would invest in a eh-um...a adult product. lol

waking up in the middle of the night... I know that if I didn't ware myself out that day i wake up more often... i also cut my dose down to 1/2 a pill so that helped some also.

the depression: Make sure you get enough protein so your body produces dopamine (sp?)... if you don't have enough protein for your body to make dopamine you will get depressed. When I first started phen I had issues with this. My doc looked at my eatting diary and saw that i wasn't having enough protein, told me to eat more, and I've been good ever since.

hope this helps!!

loved the erges topic tooo funny!!!

[redheadohyah]

I am so happy I joined this club. You always think your the only one in the world that has "your crazy problems" good to know Im not the only crazy out there. haha

I did have to make a stop at the "TOY" store the other day, My mom called and said, Hey, can I watch the baby?. I was like, HECK YA, took my butt to the store. Lets just say I think I should have bought more batteries. YOWZA

As for those woman that don't want to be with their hubbies or B/F because they feel fat...PLEASE. I was 230 pounds when i was in my 20's and and not much thinner then that my whole life, I lost over 100 pounds and still hated the way I looked, until I realized. WAIT, I am sexy and if he didn' t think I was sexy he wouldnt be here. My sex life got way better after I realized how beautiful I am.
Don't get me wrong, I still have issues with my body but I know from experience that even when you get to this "weight" your after....you will still have issues with yourself because it's your inner thoughts that have you all messed up.
CLEAR your mind and know that you ROCK and that your sexy as all heck.

MOTIVATEDMOMMA----- i ADORE YOU. I have that same problem with my x...Its so HARD to say no. WOW.

I am glad I am reading all this because I didn't know anything about the protein, perhaps thats why I have been feeling so crappy today. I am CRAVING carbs. I want dry stuff, nothing moist.
I had chicken for dinner and it was great and now I feel great so it must be what I needed.
I didn't even know what phen was until I went to my doctors and made a complaint about the weight I had gained when I quit smoking and he said here you go...therefore I didn't and dont know anything about this drug except for what I read on here.

GLAD TO HAVE YOU GUYS....

[Angela C]

I had dry mouth at first,but I don't anymore.That has been my only side effect.Well until I just found out about the "urges" being one LOL.I just thought I was feeling that way because of me feeling alot better about myself now LOL.Maybe it is a combination of both LOL.

[bizymomma]

Well what Im about to say will probably shock most, offend a few, and make the rest go - I hear ya.......redhead its funny you should mention running to the store for props for 'me-time' I for one would love to see 'craftsman' make a large tool box on wheels that looks like a nightstand WITH LOCKS I have become quite the collector after 4 years of being virtually single LOL - but hey you dont have to worry about tucking in the tummy, acrobatic maneuvers and wondering if your back end jiggles when you assume that position or offending anyone when you just roll over and sleep LOL there is one downfall to feeling sexier about yourself and being single (at least for me who has never a had a camera shy moment in my life) I tend to take 'flirtacious' pics of myself and torture my would-be suitors ...... moving on ....

time4tea I found a wonderful moisturizer dermalogica intensive moisture balance ohhhh its like it soaks in and just revives starving cells somedays when the air is especially dry ( I live in the desert ) I will wash my face before bed and put a nice coat of Aquaphor by Eucerin it is probably most comparable to Vaseline but it works and by morning oh again.....revived

[dhenryhand]

bizymomma: You are crazy wild...where do you get this stuff from.

Keep it real...that's all we can do!!!

[bizymomma]

LOL it really did cross my mind to get some type of nightstand that doubles as a hidden storage space - I have a huge room and 2 teenagers that really dont know the true definition of privacy- so to keep everything hidden (and I wasnt lying when I said collection - there is alot) I have to get pretty creative, in fact the other day I made it all the way to my office reached in the pocket of a blazer I hadnt worn in awhile and realized I had a mini vibrator in the pocket (one I had obviously tried to tuck away and forgot where it was) LOL throughout my entire sales meeting I prayed I wouldnt bump my jacket wrong or move just right to set it off.........

[Raquel]

LOL

Ok - this should be on the "5 things about me" thread ... but anyway.
I never wanted a vibrator ... use to kid about them ... saying it would just chip my tooth, and unless they made them like a jackhammer ... why bother? So anyway ... I never had one. This past summer, at 41 years of age, a friend got me one ... and I was like "big whoop" well let me tell you ... this old dog has learned a new trick or 2, I'm absolutely in lust with it.
AND as for hiding it I own 7 yes 7 pair of black sweat pants that I keep stacked up, it's always in a pocket of one of the pairs I don't wear.

Any one else own a lot of black? LOL I'm going to keep wearing black till they make a darker color!

[bizymomma]

I LOVE BLACK!!!!!
every suit I own, and I own quite a few are black - no matter my size I feel sexy in black, powerful and classic in black!! I try to mix it up but its usually black as the main color

[benson012094]

Dang, I should have read this thread a long time ago. See what happens when you skip over threads? You miss out on good conversations.

Sooo, that's why I am incredibly excited lately? It's the phen??? The other day my husband's direct quote is, "what in the heck is wrong with you?" Normally it's him begging. Now I am asking in the morning before he goes to work and at night. He honestly can't keep up.

I would love to join in on the "toy" subject, but I am so shy when it comes to that. (But I will say, like Raquel, I just got my first one.)

[Lokoh]

Well I am glad I started this SIDE EFFECTS thread LMAO

OHHHH the joys of toys :O)

[scatanafas]

Not sleeping well

dark circles under eyes (prob. from not sleeping)

dry skin

phen psychosis...I'll lose it and go nuts over something stupid....short tempered..this has happened lately but not in the beginning of me taking phen.

dry mouth, bad breath

[Mushy]

well i hate to say it but.. uhm i have been married for almost twenty years and my hubby couldnt for about sev....well ten years .. at least not so much that i would really take notice . so i too have a frequent buyer card at sensually yours. and it does help and i agree about the craftsman toolbox/nightsand with locks. i wont even go into the neighbors three year old and the day my daughter said mom what the hell is that that josiah has!!!! (cute as a button but what a curious toddler lordy)

[sharose]

1- HEADACHES ..... drinking a lot of water DOES HELP

2- SLEEPLESS NIGHTS....prescription lunesta. BUT I DONT SLEEP 8 HRS OR NOT
EVEN 7 ON IT. (but it iis more sleep then without)

3- CONFUSSION..... not knowing how to get places while driving!

4- ANGER....getting so mad over the littlest things

5-CONSTIPATION......can't seem to go....but deff need too!

6-ITCHY SKIN.....aveeno soap and lotion, love it!

7-NOT FEELING LIKE I LIKE FOOD.....forcing myselve to eat.

8-DRY MOUTH....????? have not found a cure

9- BAD BREATH ( i think it's fro mthe dry mouth)

10-READY FOR THIS? DRY SPELL! ALL U ARE SAYING HOW SPUNKY U FEEL WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE NITTY GRITTY,,,, WELL WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!? I HAVE BEEN WITH MY BOYFRIEND FOR ALMOST 3 YRS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WHEN IT COMES TO "THAT"....NOW WE HAVE TO USE K-Y
YEPPPP... whats wrong with my phen?

11-SHAKES.... havent found anything to help it...but it's not every day

12-HOT FLASHES....i have my fan at my desk, I dont wear sweaters ANYWHERE! i sleep with my window a little bit open.

13-HYPER....i cant control it! lol

14- CRASHING IN THE PM.....i try to eat a little protien it seems to help

For now thats all i can think of....

[sexyjenn08]

...........did someone say TOYS!!!!!! They are a must have...... last week "bob" died :-( Sooooo......tomorrow hubby is taking a vacation day and well......I think I need to go shopping!!!!!!! LOLOLOLOLOL

I LOVE this thread!!!

[dalako]

Ok, the Tool Box with locks for the toys....... well sad to say my hubby and I found one at menards!!! AND IT HAS WHEELS!!! We keep it in our closet next to his dresser. No one notices it. Thank God! I can't imagine someone finding it!
The toys come in handy when my hubby needs a break! The other night our bull died which is our favorite, so now we have to go get another one.

I hate that when it happens!! LOL

[foxym76]

My side effects....
-bad headache
-rise in blood pressure
-short tempered. irritated very easily. very emotional over the stupidest things!!!!...( Lokoh...I completely identify with the crying in the grocery store at the nuts because of a song!!!)
-not sleeping very well.

I took 1 pill every morning for a week or so and my headache was so bad and it would not go away no matter what i took. Also evening time was HORRIBLE!!! I am pretty sure it was because my blood pressure was high.....I had to go lay down because I felt soooooo bad. Saturday I only took a half a pill and Sunday I took nothing. I felt great yesterday. This morning I took only a 1/2 pill.......maybe my body can only handle 1/2pill a day.

hey i think my blood pressure is up too i can feel it. do u think i should stop taking it? i have capsules so i can't take half. don't really like this feeling

[hairstudiogirl12]

They are all right. Double your water, eat 6 small meals per day, don't take the pill past 2pm and get at least 6 hours of sleep DON'T Eat past 7pm. I have lost 35lbs to date and I started with the headaches. As for constipation and mood swings, drink more water, it pushes the medication through you faster so as to be more effective. I'll share my program. But, to each their own. 1200-1400 cal per day, 40-80 oz of water for me but may be different for you.
1 get up, take 1/2 pill with water. wait one hour.
2 oatmeal packet 150 cal with a glass of water or skim milk.
3 mid- morning vanilla pudding pack--100 cal. drink glass of water.
4 lunch any diet microwave meal--watch cal intake.
5 mid-day repeat #3 take other half pill by 2pm
6 very small dinner- usually whatever, but half what I had before. WATER WATER WATER WATER.
If I don't drink water, I drink skim milk or low acid orange juice.
I also work out 4-6 days per week. Went from a 14 to an 8 in less than 6mos!!!!
ALSO--- I am a hairdresser, I never thought this schedule could work for me but if you are determined, it WILL work!!!!!!!

[hairstudiogirl12]

hey i think my blood pressure is up too i can feel it. do u think i should stop taking it? i have capsules so i can't take half. don't really like this feeling

I have tried the capsules and they made me jittery. try to get the pills that you can snap in half. they work better.