Recommendations for coming off phen?

[bceballos80]

I know it's habit forming. My doc told me that because of this, he will only allow me to stay on it for 3 months @ a time. I have forgotten my phen at home on two occasions and the whole day i felt extremely lethargic! While i was at the doc the last time... i forgot to ask how i would come off of the phen. I do not plan to go back to see him since he has already given me my last scrip of phen so... any recommendations? My last week, should i start cutting the pills in half?

Also, does anyone have any idea approximately how long it takes phen to leave the system?

Thank you, in advance, for all your advice!

[Mommy2Belle]

well iam on the same boat as you. My dr gives it 4-6 months and this is my 5th and final month period just because iam almost at my goal weight. He didnt tell me how to wean myself off but from day 1 he said take it every other day or take it mon-fri and skip weekends so you wont be addicted. I never told him i did differently. With my last pres. now i take it every other day and i feel fine. I know some people who have horrible withdrawls from it and others nothing. So you were saying after only a day you felt weird? I honestly dont know what to tell you because ive never felt like that before and ive even skipped 2 days the only effect i had is that i was a little bit hungrier then normal.

[bceballos80]

It's so funny how Phen affects us all so different! Yes, after missing a day, i felt like spending the rest of it in bed! Oh, and you're absolutely right with the hunger! I felt as if i couldn't get full. I still have 45 lbs before i reach my goal weight... do you know how long they recommend to stay off of it before they put you back on? Well, after i experience what ever i might have to to come off... that will determine if i even go back on.

[bceballos80]

Wow mommy2belle, i just noticed that you've lost 64lbs. That's awesome!!! In 5 months?! Amazing!!

[Mommy2Belle]

aww ty yes i started July 8th at 210 and today iam 142 so 68lbs since then. Its hard but its defiently worth it. I know my dr told me 3 months before putting you back on it. Every dr is different though, i would call your dr and see what his opinion is.

[daiseered]

I never had any problem coming off phen. I stopped when I found out I was pregnant last year, and this year I stopped for a few weeks after it stopped working and just started back on it 2 days ago - no problems, just hungrier!

[Southern Sanity]

I just started mine tuesday I was on it last year for 3 months and lost 40lbs I did gain it back so when he gave them too me this time I got Thyroid pills to take as well. I never had any problem going off these. I have a real high tolerence anyways due to my Ephedra use. I think everyones different. But if withdraws are too excesive call your doctor.

[countryasadirtroad]

I usually have withdrawal symptoms when I get off of phen too. I asked my weight loss doctor and she said to do half a pill for a week, then half a pill every other day for a week, and then half a pill every three days for a week. She told me that stopping them quickly is bad for the system b'c of the chemicals it suppresses in your brain.

I'm not sure on how long to wait before getting back on them... I agree that it will probably differ between doctors. My primary care said 3 months on, 1 year off... which is why I found a weight loss clinic that will prescribe them until you reach a certain BMI or you start having bad test results at your monthly visits (high BP, migranes after the initial week or two, etc)

[J.P.{iz wicked!}]

The half life for phen is 16 to 31 hours which means it should be completely out of the system in 32 to 62 hours, which is ~1.5 to 2.5 days for it to totally clear your system. However withdrawl effects can last for several days after elimination due to the brain's perceived need for the drug to funtion properly.

[bceballos80]

Thanx for the knowledge J.P. Interesting... and a whole year to re-start phen countryasadirtroad??? I am not near the BMI i should be!!! I still have 43 more pounds to go!!! I have never had the energy that i do when i'm on phen. Thanks for the info guys!

[alykat06]

Well I have been off of phen for about 4 weeks, I came off all at once and I was fine the first 2 weeks without it because I didnt feel like phen was doing much anymore to begin with, but since two weeks ago I have felt like a truck ran over me, I was surprised to see how much phen contributed to me not being tired and the motivation it gave me. It is much harder to control my appetitie now than before. I will be asking to wean myself off next time.

[kelmhand]

HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU LOOSE SO MUCH SO FAST? I HAVE BEEN ON PHEN FOR 13 MONTHS AND HAVE ONLY LOST 73LBS. IN THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF I HAVEN'T LOST ANY. BUT I STILL TAKE MY PILL EVERYDAY!! I BREAK THEM IF HALF SOMETIMES, MY HUSBAND FUSSES ABOUT HOW SMALL I AM GETTING. I WOULD NEVER COME OFF OF IT IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO.

KEL

[bamachicky]

Its funny that this question came up because I decided to skip my pill today to see if I could tell any difference without it since my doctor said I could only take phen for 6 months. And since I started taking it towards the end of July, I will have to come off in January. I usually take my pill (37.5) around 7:30 every morning, but didn't take it this morning. And wow, could I ever tell the difference! My appetite was ok, nothing out of the ordinary there, BUT, I was so drained and tired. My co-workers kept asking why I was so quiet. It wasn't that I didnt have anything to say, I was just too tired to say it! And I knew I still had the rest of the work-day to finish, plus stop by the gym on the way home for my workout, PLUS cook supper and clean house when I got home. So, I decided to take a half a pill at 2:00 this afternoon, and I perked right up. I will DEFINITELY have to wean myself off slowly!

[bceballos80]

HOLYCOW bamachiky you look wonderful!!!! You look like a whole new beautiful person!!! And WOW how much younger you look is amazing!!! It's so awful what this weight does to us. Congratulations!!! Kelmhand, I'm not sure who you were asking your question to, "How in the world did you lose so much..." Mommy2Belle has lost a lot in a short amount of time. I'm doing a diet similar to hers. I have one month left of pills so i want to get the max benefit possible! I have been told by others to ween myself off of them in the way that countryasadirtroad described but that means I need to start that process next week!! That stinks... maybe i can call and see if my doc. will prescribe a lower dosage for the last month... hummmm

[bamachicky]

Thank you so much bceballos! I think I'm at a plateau and kinda mullygrubbin' around and your compliment really picked me up! Thanks so much! I experimented again today with the phen and waited until 2:00 pm to take a half tablet. It picked me right up again, and I didnt seem to be any hungrier in the morning than usual. It got me to thinking...I could make my phen last a little longer by only taking a half a tablet on some days, and take a whole tablet on days I feel that I need it. I guess I'm just thinking out loud. LOL

You are absolutely beautiful! I hope I look half as good at you when I get to 178! How tall are you?

You have a gorgeous family. Are your children twins?

[JennJenn99]

I have been off of phen for 3 weeks now and counting down the days till December 1st when I can get a new prescription. Next time I am weaning myself off too. The major difference I could tell is my energy level. I mean I could stay up till 3am-4am and get right back up at 6am and have energy ALL day long but now, I am dragging by 4pm and ready to go to bed by 9pm. As far as my hunger, it has increased a little and can eat bigger portions then what I was able to do so prior to coming off phen. But it seems the last month on phen seemed like the pills were working at all to me. I am hoping buy starting them again will kick start my weight loss because I haven't lost any since being off phen

[daiseered]

Originally Posted by kelmhand

HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU LOOSE SO MUCH SO FAST? I HAVE BEEN ON PHEN FOR 13 MONTHS AND HAVE ONLY LOST 73LBS. IN THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF I HAVEN'T LOST ANY. BUT I STILL TAKE MY PILL EVERYDAY!! I BREAK THEM IF HALF SOMETIMES, MY HUSBAND FUSSES ABOUT HOW SMALL I AM GETTING. I WOULD NEVER COME OFF OF IT IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO.

KEL

Wow...... You're complaining? If I lost that much in a year I'd FLIP!!! You are so close to your goal you are slowing down, that's what happens. 73 lbs and you're complaining... GIRL!! UGH!! You are doing so well!!! Phen or not, that is a huge success!!

[alykat06]

Originally Posted by daiseered

Wow...... You're complaining? If I lost that much in a year I'd FLIP!!! You are so close to your goal you are slowing down, that's what happens. 73 lbs and you're complaining... GIRL!! UGH!! You are doing so well!!! Phen or not, that is a huge success!!

I completely agree with Daisee, be proud of your success, because after all you should be proud of yourself. I hope to have lost 75 lbs come july or agust after being on phen for 13 months your an inspiration ya know....

[casino11]

When I reached my goal of 145 on Sept 1st. that is when I started slowly weaning myself off
The first two or three wks. I went to 1/2 a tablet instead of a whole one. Next I went to 1/2 a tablet. every other day. and so on. til I reached Oct 31st. Now i am off as of Oct 31st.. YEA...
it helped me the most to go off slowly.. I am still staying in the 144- 146 all the time..
casino11

[countryasadirtroad]

Originally Posted by bceballos80

Thanx for the knowledge J.P. Interesting... and a whole year to re-start phen countryasadirtroad??? I am not near the BMI i should be!!! I still have 43 more pounds to go!!! I have never had the energy that i do when i'm on phen. Thanks for the info guys!

Why the h*ll do you think I tracked down a weight loss clinic?!?! LOL

[kelmhand]

thanks guys!!!! i am very proud of myself- i haven't been this size since high school(pre husband and KIDS!) i am really scared to come off of phen. i too go to bed late and get up before daylight. i even did this in the summer when the kids didn't have school. it mankes me feel better to get up and going before they do. i was exercising alot but now that it has gotten colder i'm not into as much. loosing weight does give you that little bit of excitment that makes you want to keep going. you guys have been alot of help. i look at the post everyday.
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[bceballos80]

[QUOTE=bamachicky;876089]Thank you so much bceballos! I think I'm at a plateau and kinda mullygrubbin' around and your compliment really picked me up! Thanks so much! I experimented again today with the phen and waited until 2:00 pm to take a half tablet. It picked me right up again, and I didnt seem to be any hungrier in the morning than usual. It got me to thinking...I could make my phen last a little longer by only taking a half a tablet on some days, and take a whole tablet on days I feel that I need it. I guess I'm just thinking out loud. LOL

You are absolutely beautiful! I hope I look half as good at you when I get to 178! How tall are you?

You have a gorgeous family. Are your children twins?[/QUOTE]

Thank you. I am about 5'8" . My kids are not twins but, you don't know how much i get asked that question. They're 16mo. apart. I figured i'd "get 'er done" all at once and then work on getting my body back. Luckily our second try, i had a boy, or else i probably would have went another round.. lol. Now i have one of each so i'm content

[bceballos80]

Originally Posted by countryasadirtroad

Why the h*ll do you think I tracked down a weight loss clinic?!?! LOL

LOL... Yeah, i think i'm going to have to do some huntin' too!