Don't know how to stop phen

[needadvice]

I hope this is okay to post. I am sure some people will have some negative opinions of me after reading this, but that is understandable.

I am 23 years old. I started taking phentermine about four years ago. I took it on and off for about two years, and have been taking it nearly every day for the last two (one pill a day, half in the morning and half in the afternoon). I am not overweight, nor was I ever, but I suffered from severe binge eating problems. I have never had a prescription; I ordered it online. It started innocently enough, but I continued to order and take it. It does suppress my appetite somewhat, but I mainly take it for energy and the overall sense of well being and motivation it gives me. I still get incredibly tired eventually, but I feel like it does help me stay awake longer than I normally would be able to. It has given me the ability to stay focused and energized during workouts. I live a healthy lifestyle and do not drink or smoke.

It is getting harder to come by online, plus I realize I shouldn't be taking it. I'd probably just drink coffee if I could, but caffeine makes me break out in terrible cystic acne.

When it comes down to it, I'm terrified to go off of it. I don't know what to expect. I have considered going to a doctor and explaining my situation to see if they could offer any advice, but I don't know if that is a good idea.

If anyone can offer any ideas, it would be greatly appreciated. No one in my life would suspect this of me. I live a happy, successful life, although I do struggle with times of depression, and I fear going off phentermine may trigger it.

Thank you to anyone who replies. It is greatly appreciated.

[Shelly76]

It is a good thing that you realize that you have a problem and you are trying to seek some advice to help you out. I am not a professional, but it sounds like to me that you really need to seek some medical advice from your doctor. And if you don't feel like talking to your own doctor talk to a different doctor. I really do believe that you need some help if you have been on phen for that long and can't quit it. Especially if you aren't even overweight at all. Please seek some medical advice from a doctor, I don't think that you will regret the decision. Good luck to you!

[Resmoo]

Shelly is right, find some compassionate professional help - a doctor, and a counselor. Do not think for a moment that this addiction makes you less of a person or that you have a fatal flaw. Depression, addictions, etc. are simply illnesses - meaning ignore the stigmas society puts on them. Treat your illness and get better! Best of luck.

[libra]

I agree with all the above, although I know its hard to try to keep yourself at your idle weight, notice I said your,no matter what, its always not good enough, because the truth is its an emotional roller coaster with any addiction, and sometimes we form a habit to try to rid ourselves of everyday issues, Im not a doc, but I do have common sense, all i can say is pray, and it might sound lame, but, it works

[4mrSgrAddict]

We're have a near identical situation. You have to force yourself to stop. Will yourself to do it. It just takes some willpower and to find something else that will work for you. Although it was really hard for me to stick to a rigid low carb diet - it really worked for me. In fact, after the low carb fat burning kicks in about 3 days, you feel like you ARE taking phen cuz you have so much energy. Give it a shot.

[2fat2]

Dear Needadvice,
I'm not sure I understand why you want to stop taking phen. I've been going to a weight loss clinc for six years and the Dr.'s there told me it is okay to stay on a maintenence dose of phen. Each person's body is different. Maybe if you talk to a doctor that specializes in weight loss/eating disorders they can guide you.

[MistyShell]

I'm in agreement with 2fat2. Although you may not be overweight now, the propensity may be present. Obesity is a recognized medical condition now and should be treated as such. I understand that you may be addicted to the phen, and my only advice about that is that we all have some type of vice. There is no evidence that the long-term use of phentermine used as a maintenance dose is harmful. In fact, it has been used in the treatment of binge eating disorders for years. There are other medications designed specifically for binge eating, but they tend to cause weight gain. If you truly feel you have an addiction, then you should seek help. But keep in mind that many of us suffer from an addiction with food. In this case, it may be the lesser of two evils (taking the phen). I wish you luck and happiness.

Misty

[Carrie5210]

I have to add two conflicting points of view here....call it support and devils advocate if you will. I am a recovering bulemic.....we wont go there now...anyway. I think the issue you have is two fold. You used the phen to contol your binge eating, it worked you are estatic that you were able to achieve this......but the fear that it will return when you go off it keeps you from stopping....is that a reason to stay on it, yes because you rationalize this as therapy from your point of view. Something I relate to, although I am a great deal older then you....bulemia is something that although I have been in recovery for a very long time, its like alcoholism, you never shed it, its always there.....I was never a huge binge eater but when traumatic events would invade my life (there were many from my early teens up) it would be more like stress eating, coupled with insecurity I would find that the only thing in life I could control was my intake of food, so I, without even the knowledge of it became a bulemic at age 13......for almost 17 years.....until I got smart and realized that I just could no longer live my life that way. They only times I stopped was when I was pregnant and nursing......I would lose the weight after having my children but the condition always returned and worse then before.......

So your idea of therapy (using phen to control the condition) is rationalized by the alternative (binge eating)....but what you really need at this point is to go to the root of why you binge eat. I am not advocating that I think you should stop cold turkey from the medication, I think that would be detrimental to your condition....but I think you do need to seek help from a therapist....

If your issues were that you suffered from a medical condition that caused weight gain and the phen had helped to lose the weight and as soon as you went off of it you gained weight back and when you went back on you lost it again and maintained the loss, I would agree that a maintenance dose would be sufficient in your condition....but I DO NOT AGREE with the posters that said it's okay for you. Your issues are not with weight control for your health....they are with a condition that stems from an emotional/mental state that causes you to binge on food......and that will only get worse as life changes as you age.....eventually you will require more then the phentermine to control it.....trust me, I know where you are right now in your life......and if you think you are in need of advise on this, this is the last place you need to search for it.

I wish you luck, and hope you are strong enough to find the help you need......no one said that life is easy, you just have to be stronger then the obstacles out there to overcome what has put you where you are today.

[Jenny Boo]

Wow Carrie, that was a great post. How awesome is it that there is someone else who understands your position. I know for me, it's always better to talk with someone who has been there.
NeedAdvice - I applaude you for putting it out there, and asking for help. The fact that you are really says something about your own self-awareness! I can't speak from a position of knowing exactly what you are going through. I have had my own issues though, and I know that for me, once I got to the point where I could reach out for help, I was in a much better place. Perhaps you could find an empathetic therapist to talk to about this issue? I know I'd rather talk to a therapist than a primary care doctor anyday! They can be so much more understanding (if you find one who is a good fit for you). Since you have a few different things you are dealing with, and a possible mood disorder trigger, I wonder if talking to a MFT or something wouldn't be the best thing.
In any case, I can't possibly tell you what you should do, only offer any advice I have to give. I do hope you find what you need. And you sound smart. I'm sure you'll do the right thing for you.
Who knows.. maybe by posting about this.. you even helped someone else.
I wish you well.
Boo

[shannong]

I am new to this and today was my fist day on phen but after reading your post I had to post a reply. My doctor gave me medicine yesterday to help me stop smoking I really want to but my fear of gaining more weight when i quit has stopped me from doing it. I have gained 50 pounds this year. My doctor suggested phen to help me not gain while quitting smoking. Here is where I have some knowledge of your problem. My doctor has only given me phen for 2 months then I have to be detoxed off of it. The reason you ask. I am a recovering addict and alcholic. I have 7 years clean and sober but I know my limits and my doctor is a good doctor and knows that I must be medically detoxed off of this. As a recovering addict I would not suggest stopping cold turkey after that long, I agree with other post you have to get medical advise. I have been in recovery since 1986 (had a relapse 7 years ago) in those 21 years I have been in recovery I have worked with many people to help them get help for their addictions. Any good doctor will tell you that after taking a medicine that long you need to detox yourself medically from it. I also agree with one of the post you also need to look at why you binge eat or whatever. Addiction is more about other things then the drugs, alchol, food, shopping, sex etc. There are many wonderful programs such as AA, NA, SA, OA, etc that can help you. If you truly feel you have an addiction to phen I would first suggest medical advise, then maybe a 12 step program to help you work through this, you have already taken the first step and admitted there is a problem trust me that is the hardest part. I am not saying you are addicted only you know that but do seek medical advise.