[Laina28]

Just out of curiosity is it common for most doctors to only prescribe a month at a time supply of Phen? My mother as well as my fiance both have BMI over 30 and when my mother tried to get Phen the doctor refused and won't prescribe it and when my fiance tried with his doctor they told him they would not prescribe it to him either and if they did he would need to get lab work and only get a month supply at a time. My BMI was 28 and all I did was go in and ask for Phen and got it from my primary care physician. It seems more doctors are reluctant to prescribe it. Now it just so happens that the least encouraging people about my weight loss are my mother and fiance. Both of them telling me that Phen must not be good for you since they were both turned down. Figures doesn't it?

[JennJenn99]

My primary Dr. prescribed me phen a month ago today. I had my lab work done thru my job (weight, height, bp, blood sugar, chorlestrol (sp), ect,) and I presented him with my results and my BMI was 35. Since I have high blood pressure my dr. said if maybe I could get some of my weight down it might lower my pb so he only prescribed a month of phen for me. I called the have my prescription refilled yesterday but when I went to pick it up last night, the pharmacy told me they are still waiting on a reply from my Dr. to approve a refil and for me to call my Dr. so thats what I am going to do this morning to see if maybe i need to go by the Dr. to check my bp and weight. I checked my bp yesterday while I was at Walmart and my blood pressure was the best I have ever seen. It was 140/80. Its normally around 154/98 and as of today on my digital scales when i woke up i weighed 200.0!!!! I know if i go to the dr. i will weigh more because it will more than likely be in the evening and of course I will have clothes on but Hey thats OK, I have still lost weight since the last time i was there and i was pushing 217 but she marked 216 on my records. I guess this month I might actually work on execersing. I really really need to!!

[MaggieinATL]

I'm a nonpracticing RN with 2 sisters that are doctors. Here's the "round the dinner table" view on this:
One sis wouldn't give you ANY controlled substance unless your arm was falling off. The other sis believes drugs are there to be used so use them-as long as they are used properly. Nurse in the middle agrees with the other sis. I have seen doctors let patients be in severe pain and not prescribe a pain relief medicine. I've seen doctors treating severely overweight patients for diseases that are clearly related to the patient's obesity, yet the doc has done nothing to treat the real problem. My OWN PCP wouldn't prescribe phen for me. I looked her right in the face and said, "Fine, I'll go get another PCP that subscribes to my philosophy on meds because clearly, you don't." To be fair, there are A LOT of factors that contribute to a docs decision, liability should something go wrong, other health risks a patient has (I have borderline high blood pressure and she felt it unwise), and just a general fear by dr.s that patients are all drug addicts.

Using meds to create a different outcome is a decision that needs to be monitored with a physician but you need to use a physician that is comfortable with YOU and YOUR request-if it's REASONABLE and will not create more risk.

[alykat06]

Well a lot of doctors dont prescribe it, but my doctor finally did after we had gone through a whole year of trying to find out why I wasnt losing weight, I went to a nutritionist and everything. I also had bloodwork done to make sure i was healthy and didnt have heart problems. My doctor will only let me have a month at a time because they dont want you to keep using it if your not losing weight. Also they like to monitor your blood pressure and make sure you are not having side affects. My doctor monitors how much I lose and what I'm doing to lose the weight. Then she will prescribe me another month. My doctor will more than likely stop my prescription after 3 months and then start again after a month so that I can get the full affects of Phen. The

[daiseered]

Although it's FDA approved and a prescription drug, I can understand why doctors don't hand it out freely. Diet and exercise is the WAY TO GO but a lot of people try and try and just get stuck, and they do everything in their power and can't go anywhere. The doctors don't want to just hand it out without any medical reason (joint pain, diabetes, etc) because they have to be careful about just handing out meds, like any other prescription.

The one month at a time - they want you to use it as prescribed, and they want to monitor you in terms of blood pressure, weight loss, eating and exercise habits that are being established, etc. Because if you are just taking the pill and not being completely proactive about lifestyle changes, they won't prescribe it to you - that's not the purpose of phen.

I would say if you mother and fiance have tried everything and still are stuck - have them print out meal plans, exercises they do, basically their health lifestyle. If diabetes/high BP runs in your family have them point out that they don't want to risk getting it as well. One girl in here went "prepared" to her doc, who kept refusing to give her phen, and he changed his mind.

[stef1118]

I live in Alabama, and had to drive to GA just to get my pills. I didn't even see a doctor, just a nurse. I weighed in and she gave me a **. But for only one month as well. Have to weight in every month. Try a different doctor. I think if your BMI is high, then all docs should hand it out, thats all the news talks about is how fat the US is.

[aggie0811]

I get mine a month at a time. My normal doctor refuses to prescribe weight loss drugs so I found another doctor that pretty much all he does is see people for weight loss and prescribe phentermine. I have to go in monthly to get weighed and checked and then they hand you a new prescription.

[Batty]

I was prescribed 3 months worth of 37mg Phen. My Doctor told me that if she sees a significant amount of weight loss, she will prescribe it for me again, but i will have to wait 8 months before she can prescribe it again. I have no doubt that she will see a surprising difference in my weight, and may possibly prescribe a similar medicine till I am eligible for another 3 months of Phen.
I have a Doctors appointment on the 9th, for another reason, and I know that she will see the weight I have already lost. Its funny, but i am actually excited about going back to show her!

[crazycheylove]

They could always try a weight loss clinic. I go to one. I only get a month at a time and the reason is because phen is an amphetamine and can become addictive. Someone may think that they need to take more and can cause themselves an addiction. Also, many doctors are scared of what is written in their med books about phen......causing heart problems and of course the addiction. They don't have enough information to know how well the drug works and they don't try to obtain it either. You should always be monitored while on phen, which is why we get one month at a time. That means we will show up at the next appt. to get our new script.

I hope that your fiance and mother can find someone else to prescribe it. There is someone who will. Don't give up!

[TracyG]

My PCP refused to prescribe it, so i went to a weight loss clinic and after a lot of testing he finally prescribed it to me, he said he will give me r x 's for 3 months then i have to be off a month, then back on for 3 and so on.

[BLISSFULOF3]

MY DR. WILL ONLY GIVE ME 2 WEEKS OF PHEN AT A TIME. AND HE WON'T GIVE TO ANYONE UNLESS THERE 50PDS OR MORE OVER WEIGHT

[Laina28]

Thank you all for replying. The other reason I asked was because as I mentioned I went in and asked for the script and was prescribed it without many questions asked. I did have BMI over where it should be. But, I was prescribed 6 months worth all at once. I have been working hard to change my lifestyle and eating habits. Because I don't want to be on this for too long. So it has made many positive changes for me. But, I was concerned because I was not even told to get lab work or come in for a weight check. Not to say I am not happy I was given it so easily. But, at the same time what if it had affected me negatively. When my mother and fiance were denied Phen that's what really got me thinking. I do see some of the side effects. Nothing too severe and after reading posts most of what I see is pretty normal. But, it just got me thinking. Thank you for all of your advice!

[scatanafas]

Good doctors are always mindful that they are being watched by the DEA and need to prescribe controlled substances in a responsible way or they coudl pay fines or even worse lose their license. It is not uncommon to get phen one month at a time, this is usually how it is done. Your blood pressure needs to be monitored while on it because it can raise it.

Some doctors do not believe in diet drugs at all....I am a big advocate of going to a medical weight loss doctor because they usually are more up to date and kwowledgeable on teh subject of diet pills.

I think doctors get a bad rap on here for not handing out drugs scrips like candy...I cna't tell you how many druggies call my husband on the weekend and make up stories ("im a patient of yours, saw you a long time ago, i'm in alot of pain can you call percosets into my pharmacy?) Pharmacist will tell you this person just filled an order for 100 percs the day before...this is how sellers get their controlled substances.....not calling y'all drug addicts just giving you an example of what exists out there.