Irregular Periods

[JC]

Have any females noticed irregular periods while taking Phentermine? I've been getting my periods every other week since taking the **. My regular monthly cycle ended last Monday and just started again yesterday.

This is really starting to worry me any help would be appreciated.

[E30]

JC, I haven't experienced irregular cycles- but I have experienced very, very bad cramps. I mean that first month i took phentermine let me tell you i thought i was going to go to the hospital! i had severe cramps that would not budge even when i took 2 extra-strength tylenol ( 500 each) then an hour later i had to take 2 more - so that was 2000 mg of tylenol!!!! it pretty much lasted all of the first day, but i didn't take phent. the rest of that week. i actually don't take phent. during that time at all anymore. this is my 2nd month on phent. i really don't know what the connection is, can't figure it out. but i am 30 yrs old and i have never in my life had cramps like that. have you called your doctor? well good luck to you

[Daisy73]

I have just started bleeding. I don't know i it's a real period or irregular bleeding indicating that there's a problem. I'm on the pill and am always to the day and right now I'm about a week early. I 'm wanting to see if others are having problems as well.

[Summa]

I've been taking Phentermine for about three months and my periods have been horrible. Last month I spotted imbetween and last weekend I started having severe blood clots and horrible pains. I wonder if it's a side effect. Let me know.

[Laurel]

I seem to have the opposite effect of you all. I al on the pill and for the last 5 years my period has come on a certain day right down to the 10 o'clock hours. For the past 2 months I haven't gotten my period. Maybe a tinsy bit of blood for a few hours but thats it. I've taken pregnancy test to confirm that i'm not pregnant and I'm not!

[Bran]

Hey guys....I have been on Phentermine for the last 5 and a half months...The only effect on my period is being a royal B)(*&!
I never had PMS...other than some back twinges. But man, everyone annoys me during that which is so uncharacteristic. I also am late every month. Since I have talked to about 5 pharmacists who have no idea and have read the PDR with no explanation, I will venture a guess (this is by no means fact, just a theory)
1. Phentermine stimulates your sympathetic system. Your fight or flight reaction so to speak. This is adrenline or epinephrine. It will override your normal functional state which is parasympathetic, called the "feed and breed system" I know this is why you get constipation. It would then make sense that it would also retard your "breed" part which is your ovaries and hormones associated with it.
2. I would assume by reading those who are bleeding heavily that they are new to Phentermine. Again, because it is a sympathetic stimulator, it will increase your heart rate and the rate of contraction which means that more blood is getting around your body faster. That would mean that more blood is available to perfuse your arteries that build up every month called "spiral arteries" which support the endometrium of your uterus which eventually degenerate which leads to your period.

I don't exactly know and experts that I talk to don't either. I do notice that I bruise EXTRREMELY easy. I have bruises everywhere. This could be because of more perfusion.

Anyone else venture a guess? I was due for my period last week. Not looking forward to it! Good luck with you all.
Bran
PS Summa, when I worked in emergency medicine they had certain markers of things were severe. They would want to know the size of the clots, how many, and how many pads you are soaking per hour. If it does worry you, or you get to a point where you are weak, short of breath, etc. call your doctor.

[Karen]

Hi guys. Well I have a history of irregular periods but seem to have had the problem under control. I am on the pill also. Last month and this month I have had break through bleeding. I had asked my gyno about this and he said its not a side affect and it should affect it but now I am not so sure.

[LisaP]

I have been on Phen for 2 months and have noticed longer periods, more cramps, more pimples, and increased moodiness. The other strange thing is I notice that the Phen doesn't control my cravings as well right before that time of month. Small price for a week each month though

[leoam26]

LisaP..I am so ecstatic to hear that you too can't seem to control your cravings right before your period even with Phen... I was beginning to think I was taking it wrong or something.

[ROBIN]

Lisap and leoam26,

Phentermine doesn't seem to work as good around this "time of the month"? It's usually about 4 days before & one day after. I think it has something to do with your hormones and water retention. If you decide to start taking phentermine around this time, you're probably not going to feel much of the effects from the drug. Wait till the second or third day (after you've started), then you'll be able to feel the phentermine. It's going to seem like all your doing is wasting the drug when you take it on those preceding days.

[Keri]

Wow--its so good to finally hear that other people have the same period problems I do!

I too experience the cravings before my period, irritability, massive cramps, etc. I thought I was going crazy for a while because every time I went to my gyno, she couldn't find anything wrong.
whew! I'm not the only one

[Michelle1219]

My cycle is anywhere from 31 to 35 days normally. As of today, it's been 54 days since the first day of my last period. I took a pregnancy test last week...negative. I've been cramping real bad for the past 5 days or so but still no period. I'm thinking of taking another preg. test. I actually hope that I am, of course I would stop the Phen ASAP.

[Debra]

Well we all seem to agree that phen does effect our periods in one way or another. I experience some if these side effects some of the time and all other times.

As far as mood swings go. i don't know about every one else, but I have been a Phen user for on anf off 5 or so years. And no matter how hard I try to hide that I am taking these pills from friends and loved ones - They Know. I am a real ***** 24 7.

[June60]

Have any females noticed irregular periods while taking Phentermine? I've been getting my periods every other week since taking the **. My regular monthly cycle ended last Monday and just started again yesterday.

This is really starting to worry me any help would be appreciated.

I know the post is old but this is the only reference I could find regarding longer/heavier periods while using Phentermine. I wanted to post my story for support for anyone else dealing with this.
I started taking Phentermine on a Thursday and started spotting the following Saturday. This lasted one week. Then my period came (which was about when it should have started) but it has continued for 12 days and still counting. It is also heavier than normal with significant clotting. The doctor who prescribed the pills (15mg) said it my longer period is not related to the pills; then she suggested that the quick weight loss has altered my estrogen level and this may be the reason. Either way she suggested I call my doctor. My doctor (who also has experience with Phentermine) was not certain either. She said the only true way to determine the change in period was to stop taking them and wait and see.
My overall concern is the lack of research on the topic of longer periods and for those looking for information I am an example of longer/heavier periods than I have ever had and I am 48 years old. I am taking extra Iron to avoid anemia. Both doctors suggested it may be peri-menopause.....but neither were certain. Once I figure this out I will report back.

[Plump]

Wow, I hadn't even considered the connection between Phentermine and increased severity of menstruation/pre-menstruation cycles. I normally have a very mild period that usually lasts about 2.5-3.5 days and occurs every 5-8 weeks but this last one was WAY outside of the normal range in terms of severity if not length.

I've always considered myself lucky and been thankful because I've seen my friends go through horrible pain, moodiness, nausea, acne etc month after month as matter of course but my never really seemed to phase me too badly. Today, however, I spent a good deal of the day doubled over in the fetal position, I've had continuous hot and cold flashes and it seems like I just want to BITE something. Very abnormal for me - haven't had one like that since I was a teenager (27 now). I've also been taking Phentermine for about 6 weeks.

I would be tentative to say the two were connected though because the Phentermine also makes me extremely constipated and i finally broke down and took an over the counter laxative - is anyone else having this issue with the increased menstruation symptoms as well? The last time I saw my doctor I mentioned the constipation but he didn't seem concerned at all - he just told me if it was still an issue when I came back in 2 months we would readdress it then, but, really, what am I supposed to do in the meantime - not poop for 2 months :P ?

[Sadie25801]

Hey guys this is my first time on here and I am so glad I found this site. I am on the depo birth control shot and have been for 7 years. I have taken phen twice before and each time I would start bleeding and would bleed for about a week and it would stop but I started phen again 2 months ago and again I started bleeding immediately but this time I have not stopped and its getting worse. Im glad to see Im not the only one that is having these types of issues. I just wish the doctors would know about this and have some kind of suggestion as to what to do about it. I havent had a period in 7 years so this time around its killing me. I am soooo moody and irritated all the time like I was when I used to get my period and am very tired all the time now. Please if anyone finds out anything more on this it would be great to hear and I will keep searching myself.

[June60]

Ok, I promised to report back. My doctor (not phentermine doctor) suggested I stop taking phentermine because the cons out weighed the benefits. My period lasted for the entire 4 weeks that I took phentermine. It was very heavy the whole time with a HUGE amount of clotting. Probably went through a super pad every 2 hours. I didn't have any other symptom like cramps or irritability....just the riduculously heavy flow that never stopped. My doctor suggested a blood test and I was slightly anemic from the heavy flow.

I did however lose 15 pounds during the 4 weeks. Once I stopped taking the phentermine my period dwindled off in 3-4 days. Sooooo the phentermine caused my heavy flow, NOT peri-menopause. My weight fortunately did not come back. My appetite and everything else returned to normal. I did not however gain any weight back because I am used to eating smaller meals. Hope this helps someone out there.

[elizabethjbrown]

ok i havent had my period in about 4 weeks. my cycle is usually every 21 days. but i did have a miscarriage the last sunday in march and have had one period since then. i took a pregnancy test and it said neg. do you think i should be concerned?

[LindzMarie15]

I just started taking Phen and I am scared about the spotting issue. I took it for one month about a year ago and quit taking it because I was spotting. My prescribing doctor said that he had never had a patient with this side affect and sent me to my gyno. She told me to quit taking the medicine and wait a few weeks and come back so she could do a pap and exam. Everything was normal. It is not rare for myself to have breakthrough bleeding but it seemed a lot heavier while on Phen. Both doctors said that phen does not interact with birth control, this is my scare. Can anyone else relate to this?

[amberdiann]

Wow, I hadn't even considered the connection between Phentermine and increased severity of menstruation/pre-menstruation cycles. I normally have a very mild period that usually lasts about 2.5-3.5 days and occurs every 5-8 weeks but this last one was WAY outside of the normal range in terms of severity if not length.

I've always considered myself lucky and been thankful because I've seen my friends go through horrible pain, moodiness, nausea, acne etc month after month as matter of course but my never really seemed to phase me too badly. Today, however, I spent a good deal of the day doubled over in the fetal position, I've had continuous hot and cold flashes and it seems like I just want to BITE something. Very abnormal for me - haven't had one like that since I was a teenager (27 now). I've also been taking Phentermine for about 6 weeks.

I would be tentative to say the two were connected though because the Phentermine also makes me extremely constipated and i finally broke down and took an over the counter laxative - is anyone else having this issue with the increased menstruation symptoms as well? The last time I saw my doctor I mentioned the constipation but he didn't seem concerned at all - he just told me if it was still an issue when I came back in 2 months we would readdress it then, but, really, what am I supposed to do in the meantime - not poop for 2 months :P ?

I am so happy I found this thread. I couldn't figure out why I felt so horrible today. I just started phen six days ago and had brown discharge yesterday. It's time for my regular cycle to begin.

My periods are usually medium flow with no cramps or acne. Today, I've spent all day in the fetal position trying to vomit with no luck. I have been constipated since day two of phen so I will be taking a OTC laxative tonight as well.

[savychacha]

Thank god I found this thread...I started taking Adipex on September 17th and was just finishing up my period at the time. I'm currently on the pill and my cycle falls pretty regularly about every 28-30 days. Last night I had cramps, and was very irritable, and extremely tired after my workout. I didn't think much of it though since I'm usually very regular. Well, low and behold I woke up at 4:30am this morning with horrible cramps and had gotten my period. It's only been 2 weeks since my last one. I took 3 Ibuprofin, which is what I normally take on the 1st day of my period, and it has helped. The cramps have gone away for the most part, but I guess I'll just have to see how long it lasts. I will update in about a week. Also, I have had more acne, and I was nausceous last night as well. I hope this isn't going to be something that lasts, because my it will not make me happy. I will wait and see though.

[Tequila!]

I seem to be having mine twice a month too. I am on birth control but in the past I could miss one pill and be fine as long as I take it immediately the next day. Not anymore - with phen anyway.

Since I started taking Phen, TOM has been visiting twice per month. My doctor said it's because I missed a pill but now I know for sure that's not the case. My doctor said to keep taking my BC pills and it's up to me if I want to stop Phen. My lab work says I'm ok so she isn't too concerned about it.

I think there is some kind of link between my issue and phen. But, the phen is temporary and script is only good for another month supply.