[mccrorie]

I have been on phentermine for about two years, on & off (more on than off.) The first year I lost 20 pounds, but have not lost any since then. (I haven't gained any either). Has anyone else had this experience? Also, I have had very little luck finding out what long term side effects are. And how dangerous are they?
I am past most of the side effects decribed here - EXCEPT - dry mouth...it has never gone away for me... & I haven't had any kind of health problems. Altoids are the best I've found for dry mouth.
I think phen has worked best for me, of all the "diet aids" I have tried.
Great forum -- the people involved seem so caring. Thanks

[Glimmerella]

Wow, 20 lbs in one year seems so low. Were you close to your goal to start out? Heck, I just started phen this morning and I hope to lose 20 pounds a month!

How is your hunger level?

--Melissa

[TSA-in-PA]

I just got mine in the mail today (on line order -- really expensive) and am hopping to lose about 30 in 2 months. I only ordered because of the great results I've been reading here.

You've been on it for 2 yrs.? A little expensive - don't ya think??

[leavingnormal]

I've been on for almost two years. It wasn't always this expensive and I don't order online.. it's almost triple my cost. I can't afford it. Of course, now I can't get it cause of the shortage.

Dry mouth, (and other areas at times) never ceased for me either until reciently when I got these great yellow time release capsuls.. but that was then from the last batch..

I don't have any information about long term effects either. I do wonder, but i was a binger and this is the only thing that helps me. Eventually I'll be without it. I'm working hard.

For those of you NON bingers, yeah, i guess two years seems excessive.. but wait until you get on this stuff for a few months.. you'll get it.

[This message has been edited by leavingnormal (edited June 18, 2000).]

[ROBIN]

leavingmormal,

If you email me I can send you an article that I have on long-term phen use. I can't send it now because you're not listing your address .

[mccrorie]

Robin,
Please send me info on long term effects of phentermine. (see the message I posted whihc leavingnormal responded to. I've been on two years. email me at mccrorie****.com.

Are you guys for real? I'm thinking this site is maintained by the pharmacutical company.

I'll go ahead and post my question. I've been taking phentermine 30 mg for approx 3 yrs. At first I lost over 40 pounds and now this is a maintenance drug (I've hit a long plateau). If I'm off of it for a few days, I gain weight. I don't excersize and I eat when and what I want usually only one meal a day at dinnertime.
I've had a numbness/tingling/aching feeling in my left leg. It's sporatic...usually starts to throb when I'm sitting for a long time. I'm in my mid-twenties and have had no illnesses, I'm healthy with a busy work and social life. I've asked my doctor (who does not specialize in weightloss) about this. He says I'm too young to worry about a heartache and doesn't really have an answer other than a pinched nerve about my leg. I too have experienced cold hands, cold feet but I've kinda always had that. I'm running out of places to go for answers. If anyone has experienced the same problems please please please post a reply.
Thank you for your time
phenarella

Heartache=Heartattack sorry!

[ROBIN]

phenerella,

What makes you think that phentermine.com is owned by a pharmaceutical company

The reason you gain weight when you're off phen is because you don't exercise and you're only eating one meal a day.

How much phen to you take in a day? Do you ever take a break from it?

I'd be concerned about the leg numbness. That doesn't sound good. If you had a pinched nerve you would know it. It's happened to me twice but not while I've been on phentermine. It sounds like you've got to much of the drug in your system.

You doctor is full of it. 20 year olds do die from heart-attacks. You doctor should be concerned just because you are. Find a doctor that specializes in weight loss.

[mccrorie]

phenarella
your experience seems very much like mine. I lost 20 lbs, and apparently reached a plateua. I haven't gained any back, but cannot lose any more weight. I'm taking 37.5 mg per day, for about two years.
In the past few months, I have begun to noticd a numbness in my hands, more frequently at night but certainly not related to sleeping , or my hands being in an awkward position, etc. Sometimes when I'm driving, I can feel them beginning to go to sleep. Or when my hands are in a normal posture, they will just begin to be tingly and then go numb....sometimes when it happens when I sleep it is very painful for them to return to normal. I wonder if this is similar to the numbness in your legs.
My husband is a general surgeon,& he thinks I should see a neuralogist - until now it never occurred to me that it could be related to the phentermine. Do you think that might be causing the numbness in your legs? let me hear from others....

[Glimmerella]

I have been taking Phen for only a week, but my main concern is numbness and tingling in my left arm, specifically in my left hand. My hand is not totally numb, but occaisionally my pinky and ring finger go numb. Both my hands are cold most of the time because I'm anemic.

I have a friend who insists it's a pinched nerve. I also have a 2 year old that I'm always picking up and tossing around, and I'm a constant typist who used to work as a secretary, so I guess I expected at some time these "carpal-like" symptoms would emerge.

[mccrorie]

Glimmerella,
Isn't it curious, though, that all three of us have experienced some numbness in "limbs," two of us have been on phen long term.....?? Anyone else out there long or short term taking phentermine, experiencing any numbnes/tingling?

[ROBIN]

When I first starting posting here, I met this girl that had been on phen for 9 years. I have only been on close to 7 so this was very interesting to me. She has the numbness and tingling problems. She experiences this often. She also jerks. This is a reflex thing. It happens with the legs (and arms too.) More often at night when you are almost asleep. There is a name for these symptoms but I'm too tired to remember right now. Here's another one (I think it's called, hyperreflexia.) Do you ever notice that you don't relax your legs or feet? Like if you are sitting with your legs crossed, you keep your calf muscle tightened so your foot is arched up? You might notice this after awhile and then once you are aware of it, relax your leg. Carrying those plastic grocery bags is a big mistake. It takes about 1 minute for you fingers to go numb when the bags are heavy. It can take weeks to get the feeling back.

The PDR doesn't list many (any really) neuro (brain and spinal cord) problems associated with phentermine use. But, the PDR doesn't have all the answers. Some things are even left out . Never seen or known of any long-term effects of phentermine study. More people are talking about numbness and tingling. You would think that someone should be doing a study on this.

[Glimmerella]

Robin, you make a very important point. I have a 2 year old so it's always my goal to get all the groceries in and up the stairs in one trip. It's horrible for my fingers, hands and arms. I can feel them hollering at me while I'm doing it. I'm going to leave them for KikStart from now on!

[Susan in GA]

Hey guys! I have been taking Phentermine for the past 8 yrs. on and off. Twenty years ago I had neuro surgery and because of that thought the numbness in my arms and hands (esp. the left) were from the surgery. Now I hear this!! Also,some of the jerking at night has been there, not bad, just enough to wake me when I frist go to sleep sometimes and my 11 yr. old says I sometimes jerk my hands in my sleep. I wander if these symptons would ever go away if I stopped taking this wonderful weight loss helper?? It is certainly the only help I've had to keep my weight down after having two children and being one that loves to eat good food. Let mw know your thoughts....

This is very interesting to me because before I started using Phen, I did an internet search and I found a website with one of those annoying message boards....untiered, so following a thread was a MAJOR pain. However, I remember comming across a series of posts of people who had been on Phen, say 2 years, or more...and had been diagnosed with CFS or FMS ( Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Fibromyalgia Syndrome) There are ALOT of other symptoms too....making these rather controversial to diagnose....BUT...it could be Phen-related based on theories of the thalamus and its role in CNS disorders. Seems to me there are enough long-term users to merit a study.

[WINDY]

Hi Robin - would you also fax me the long-term effects article lkgwindy****.com. Thanks!!! My doc doesn't have much on long-term effects. I have been on Phen for 15 months and lost 50 pounds in 9 months on a half tab per day. Then went to a half tab 2 -3 times a week for maint. My doc has no problem keeping me on it for a loooong time as he feels being over weight is a chronic problem and needs to treated as such. But I just recently started having pain (feels arthritic) in both elbows and some referred pain on left side of arm and chest. Went to different doc and she said get off the Phen but I don;t think it is that. My EKG was totally normal and no murmers, etc. I am taking a break off phen to see if the sx's go away but anyway - enough rambling (I'm not called Windy for no reason!!!!). Thanks!!!

[Glimmerella]

Robin,

I too would like to see the article on long term effects. Thanks,

Melissa

[ROBIN]

You guys are getting DEEP. I'll have to start giving my opinions and theories soon. "rather controversial to diagnose....BUT...it could be Phen-related" Yep, I agree with Sonny D.

Isn't numbness, tingling, tremor, dizziness, stiffness, and tiredness symptoms...CNS related? Doesn't phentermine stimulate your CNS? Yes to both questions! Who's to say that long-term phen use would or wouldn't affect the CNS? The nervous system is so complex. There isn't even a known cause for Multiple Sclerosis or some other demyelinating diseases. Anyway, like Sonny D said "Seems to me there are enough long-term users to merit a study."

Windy and Glim,
The article I have is not about long-term effects. It's about a study on weight maintenance with phentermine. It just shows that people in the study kept their weight off (long term use) while maintaing with phentermine.

[T]

Numbness/tingling:

I was told phentermine is to be used for short term use. It is my understanding that a three month period of use is to be the standard period of use. After some research in in the Medline journal databases( 798 hits on Phentermine), I read an animal study which indicated "Phen possesses dopamine (DA) neurotoxic potential" even when used alone. Although I have chosen to take this drug (desperate measures for desperate people) everyone must understand there is no free ride with this drug or any other drug. But those of you experiencing neurotoxic effects would be better served to give this drug a long overdo break.

[Glimmerella]

I've only been taking Phen two weeks though. I'm not ready for a break yet.

[ROBIN]

Never believe everything that you are told. A "three month period of use" is only the "standard period of use" if that's what YOUR doctor says. I hate being compared to rats. I know I'm much fatter and smarter than a rodent. I'll only believe a study that is done on humans!!! "Those of you experiencing neurotoxic effects would be better served to give this drug a long overdo break." I can't argue with this statement. But...a lot of people experiencing these type symptoms haven't been on phen for a long time. "There is no free ride with this drug." THAT'S FOR SURE! The cost is outrageous right now.

[Teree]

How about dry eyes? Anybody have trouble with that while on Phen? I wear contacts, started my medicine last Friday, and my eyeballs are driving me CRAZY!!! If I had a dime for every time I have blinked, I'd start manufacturing phen-fen myself!!

[mccrorie]

I saw a neurologist monday and had a nerve conduction test done because of the numbness/tingling in my hands. Worse at night, worse in the left hand. Final results show that I have carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands. Surgery is not indicated at this point, and I am relieved that this doesn't appear to be phen-related. However, so many people report this side effect there must be some connection.
Teree - I have experienced dry eyes while taking phen (I'm a contact wearer also), but not to the degree that you have. There is probably a drying agent and/or diuretic in the drug which would account for some of the quick weightloss at first. Water retention, as you all know, will certainly push the scales up!!

mccrorie

[Teree]

mccrorie: well, I take a diuretic blood pressure medicine too, so maybe that's why mine are worse than yours...maybe I should tell my boss I need to go home and rest my eyes!

I was just reading the above post about the tingling and numbness, I know that I have posted about this before. I have numbness and tingling in my leg also I esp. have it in my hands, not to mention the statement that Robin made regarding holding a plastic bag or crossing your legs. I got chills while I was reading the comments. I thought that my numbness and tingling was from me being diabetic. I went to the doctor today and spoke with him because I was very concerned about the above issues. My doctor says that I have carpal tunnel. He gave me a brace to use for both hands. He said that it is due to the excess fat that I have accumalated on my hands and legs I am going to read more about it I am not sure what he is really saying, and I was so frustrated with him today, I did not feel like sitting there and watching him enjoy himself speak.

[Debby]

I am so excited about the possibility of losing weight that I can't really even think straight about the possible side effects.

Does anyone have headaches or insomnia? What are you doing about it?

How do you guys get the little icons in the message? That is soooo cute!!!

[mccrorie]

Bpayton1, my husband is a surgeon and here's how he explained carpal tunnel to me: there are four bones in the wrist (actually four on top, four underneath) which form a tunnel in the wrist. The fascia will grow across the end of the bones. The median nerve as well as all sorts of tendons run through this tunnel. When there is swelling in the fascia OR over the tissue covering the bones, it decreases the size of the "tunnel" so that all the tendons and the median nerve become crowded and this swelling puts pressure on the median nerve and creates a numbness in the wrist and fingers. There are nerves from the "tunnel" going to the fingers. This, in the way he explained it in lay terms (obviously not technical language), makes sense to me. Treatment for my bilateral carpal tunnel is to sleep in splints. I have not gotten these yet, but I will.
I asked my husband, Sam, if the weight gain could result in carpal tunnel's syndrome and he said he had never heard of that, although he said that doesn't necessarily mean it's not so since that is not his field.

[mccrorie]

RE: Carpal Tunnel, 101
Bpayton1,
my husband is a surgeon and here's how he explained carpal tunnel to me: there are four bones in the wrist (actually four on top, four underneath) which form a tunnel going in to the wrist. The fascia grows across the end of the bones, thereby creating the tunnel. The median nerve as well as all sorts of tendons fill up and run through this tunnel.
When there is swelling in the fascia OR over the tissue covering the bones, it decreases the size of the "tunnel" so that all the tendons and the median nerve become crowded and this swelling puts pressure on the median nerve and creates a numbness in the wrist and fingers. There are nerves from the "tunnel" going to the fingers. This, in the way he explained it in lay terms (obviously not technical language), makes sense to me. Treatment for my bilateral carpal tunnel is to sleep in splints. I have not gotten these yet, but I will.
I asked my husband, Sam, if the weight gain could result in carpal tunnel's syndrome and he said he had never heard of that, although he said that doesn't necessarily mean it's not so since that is not his field.
What kind of work do you do? & for how long? I have been typing since eve was in the garden and now am not only typing at work, I am also typing at home on the computer until the wee hours of each morning. Carpal Tunnel is what "they" (I wonder who "they" are??) call the computer illness. Hope this helps you.
One good thing (to me) is if you are diagnosed with CTS, then it is a comfort that it is not caused by the phen. Also if it is diagnosed, you don't have to worry about it turning into anything.
I assist my husband in the office with office surgeries, and work alot with really sick patients. I see so much, that I sometimes begin to have phantom symptoms. I 'm just glad I can put a name to this and not have to worry about it.
One thing though, at our hospital if you have been on any diet pills, Phen-Fen, Phen by itself, etc., they make you wait two weeks before surgery. Of course, if you come in as an emergency that doesn't apply. This, I guess is because of the bad press Phen-Fen got when it first hit the market. Frankly, I'm happy with the phen.
Enough - after awhile I turn into ramblin' rose.

[nanc40]

I just started phentermine a few days ago and I love it. It gives me tons of energy, which I need. I was on it about 3 years ago for 3 months and lost about 30 pounds, but when I went off of it, I gained the weight back plus more. I think the reason I gained it back was because of the fact I went back to my old eating habits and stopped exercising.
I can not believe how long some of you have been on this medication. I hope to not be on it for years, and I stress the word hope....lol
As to the carpal tunnel problems; don't you think many people now a days have that sort of problem because of computer use? It just seems, to me, that most jobs require use of computer and such.
I also am so glad I found this site. It is great to have the opportunity to see how others are doing on phentermine.

anyone heard of phentermine being linked to breast tumors or lumps?

[bpayton]

mccrorie...

Thanks so much gor the information on CTS, it was very helpful. I am a homemaker/student. I do alot of typing on my pc. My husband and I are both students and I do the typing for us both. I sleep on splints also, and they really help. I don't have to use them as much though. Thanks again

[fatstuff]

Hi, very interested in all your posts. I am a heavy computer user and familiar with the arm tingling and hands going to sleep. I have a long commute and my hands sometimes go to sleep while driving. The good news is that I have had these symptoms for years and have only taken phen for 1 month. I also have had epidural shots for pinched nerves in my spine (7 years ago), caused by arthritis. I have some numbness in the legs and sometimes my legs don't want to stay still. This especially bothers me during the evening when I would like to sit and read or watch tv. Quinine sulfate helps this some but I do not take it on any regular basis. All of this was also pre-phen. Now, since taking phen I have far less arthritic pain and the legs have settled down a bunch. I also have gout and usually have to wear dumb shoes, but I have even been able to wear my regular shoes again. I am getting a little more exercise than before, but I still am not on any type of regular exercise program, although I know I should be. Perhaps I shouldn't give credit to the phen, but I am inclined to do so. I had all these aches and pains when I weighed a lot less than now, so I know they are not weight related. My original plan was to take phen for just 3 months, for common sense reasons as well as because it is too expensive for me to continue long term at the online cost. As a further note, my man, who has never taken any weight loss drug, is now seeing a neurologist because of back pain. The muscles in both his arms and legs are very unresponsive and the Dr. expects to find pinched nerves in the spine. He's had an MRI and will have another test next week, a GM- something, to test the electrical impulses in his muscles. Then we get a diagnosis and treatment plan.

I wish a drug could be verified safe for long term treatment of obesity. I believe that for some people it is a chronic disease just as much as diabetes or high blood pressure.

I remember reading that a person could "eat through" any of the weight loss drugs, which emphasizes that phen is only a tool for us, we still have to do the real work of changing our habits. Back in the 50's diet pills were freely prescribed. I remember how much I enjoyed a pill and a bag of cookies!

[Pauline]

Hello all,
I am new here and need some advise/info. I have been on phen for about 1 1/2 months. I have only lost 6 lbs in that time. I don't feel like I've even taken anything to suppress my hunger. I'm always hungry and tired. Mine are the 30 mg. yellow caps. I taKE 1 a day. Can any one give me any advise? I feel like I'm wasting my time and money. Any comment will be appreciated.

[yoyo]

hello, robin could you send me a list of side effect, to morayoyo****.com thanks...i to have been on phentermine for about 2 months, but also have been on it about 15 years ago,,back then i lost 30 pounds over a period of 12 months, and kept my weight of for a couple of years...now i needed to lose 40 pounds, have lost 15 so far, and my doctor changed manufacturers on me, and swears, that the medication is the same as phen., i insisted that it is not, so now i must look elsewhere for the miracle drug...