My Love Hate Relationship with Phen

[istar]

Greetings all. I thought I would post my experience here as I really need to talk to people who have a clue what I am talking about. I have tried to discuss this with so many people but nobody gets it because they have not experienced the joys of taking phen.

In 2001 I weighed 245 pounds and I realized, with the help of my doctor, that I had to do something about my weight. I started dieting with Weight Watchers and it went well at first but then my emotional reasons for eating resurfaced and it stopped working. I had a friend who had taken phen for years and she suggested I try it out. So I went to my doctor and asked him to prescribe me phentermine tablets. He did so, even though he didn’t really want to, because I was severely overweight at the time.

After I started taking it, my weight loss journey began. I lost masses of weight at the rate of about 10 -15 pounds a month. But after the first few months I started to feel like I was going crazy. This is a side effect of not getting enough sleep for long periods of time. I would sleep about 2-4 hours a night and sometimes not go to bed at all. I experienced every known side effect plus some that were not in the book (like hallucinations, but I have come to the conclusion that this is from severe sleep deprivation). But at the time I was so happy about the changes to my body and felt so good that I didn’t mind what it was doing to me. I had felt so bad about myself for so long and I finally had an opportunity to feel better. I tried to ignore the fact that my family thought I had some kind of psychological problem because they didn’t know I was taking it. They thought I had just kind of gone crazy and off the wall. I didn’t want to tell them because I knew they would not approve of me doing something that is so bad for me.

After about 8 months I got down to about 160 pounds. You can imagine how great I felt then. This is where my roller-coaster ride began. By this time the pills had got much stronger because there was far less of me. I started taking it on and off for a while and went up and down between about 175- 190 pounds.

By early 2003 I couldn’t stand taking it any more because of the lack of sleep so another friend suggested I try Reductil or subutramine which I believe comes under the brand name Meridia in the US. This medication was better but had similar side effects. I got more like 5-7 hours sleep a night. However, it turned me into more of a zombie than Phen. Not being able to maintain any friendships or relationships because I was so out of it.

This worked for me for all of last year and I managed to get back to around 160 pounds again. However, this is where my problems resurfaced. I felt so good about myself I wanted to live life an experience joy and have fun etc. The medications prevent me from feeling happiness – kind of like anti-depressants. Though I still had about 20 pounds to lose I felt good about myself and I was happy. This when I no longer want to take the medication.
I started seeing a personal trainer 4 times a week. I thought some physical activity might be the answer to my problems. I had gone from being very inactive to running several hours a week. This only made my weight loss efforts harder because it made me starving all the time. This was about the same time and I went through a lot of changes in life and I wound up being quite depressed. I found I could no longer take the Reductil because you are not meant to take it if you have a depression problem, and all it did was make me cry continuously.

This brings me to my current dilemma. The crying certainly stopped about a month ago when I started taking phen again. People are thinking that I am starting to get weird and crazy again. I am losing control of my life because I am so out of it half the time. The rest of the time I feel like I am so tired I want to die. On the up side, my stamina for training has increased tenfold. I feel like I am on steroids, all my muscles have toned up ultra fast in the past month. Now I feel like a giant chunky marshmallow. I have all this muscle but still fat on top of it. This creates a new problem that I don’t want to not take my phen because I feel like I won’t be able to run miles any more.

So I usually only take it 3 times a week, so I can get some sleep. But by the end of the week I find I have gained most of weight back again. I simply cannot control my eating without phen. My emotional reasons for eating can only be controlled to an extent. I have read dozens of books and tried to help myself and sort out my problems as much as I possibly can but I still can’t control my eating no matter what I do. I am seeing a dietician but I can only stick to my plan when I take the pills. I now weigh 174 pounds yet my goal weight is around 140.

Here I have my basic problem that I have had for years: I have to keep taking them to lose weight but I don’t want to take them so badly because I can’t stand how they make me feel. It’s a catch 22 situation. I have spoken to my doctor but there is nothing he can do. All I want is to be happy and live a normal life. I can’t do that when I’m taking phen because I’m either so out of it or so severely tired that I can’t live. Gaining weight makes me feel so bad though that’s almost equal against the side effects. I feel like I have tried everything to get of this situation but it’s almost impossible. I am going to ask my doctor for a lower dosage but I fear it may not be strong enough.

I am wondering if anyone else besides me has or has ever had this problem and if so how do you deal with it or get around it? Must I chose to miss out on about half a year every year just to stay a healthy weight? I really hope I am not the only person who feels this way on the planet.

[silk]

Hi istar,

Your story sounds familiar. I just stopped taking the phen a few days ago (after about a year) because I'm tired of feeling so "out of it". Long term solution? Don't know, but I have just checked out a number of post/websites that have mentioned a phen-pro combination as being successful. Have you heard/read about it?

[ June 09, 2004, 02:35 PM: Message edited by: silk ]

[Meekness29]

Hi istar,

I just wanted you to know that you are not alone. When I saw the topic of your thread, I clicked on it IMMEDIATELY!!

I understand EXACTLY how you feel. Please send me an email tomeikah25@hotmail. I would like to talk to you. I think we can help each other sort of the problem, and find a solution.

Can't wait to hear from you.

God Bless,
Meekness29

[dps1822]

uhhh I feel the same way, my mom always says are you taking those pills again? I think I am going to stop taking them though cause I am starting to see that it is a head game for me. I didn't use the phen all weekend and I did pretty good. I think I just need to say NO! and make better food choices. My stomach is stapled so I can hardly eat but it was what I was eating that was bad. I would eat ice cream instead of eating a meal. So I am getting better. I could not sleep either and I would finally fall asleep like around 4am and then have to wake up at 7am to get ready for work. So I am going to see how counting calories is going to do with me.

[TwinMom of 2 Girls]

I just can't see staying on the roller coaster. I know exactly how you feel, although I could not continue taking the drug after 3 days. I literally went crazy with voices in my head. Well, I would think the last option is bariatric surgery. See if your insurance can cover it......

[FRESCA777]

I can't say that I've been experiencing these side effects to quite the degree that you all have described here, but I do notice a difference in my emotions and behaviors. The first 4-5 hours after taking 30 mg of Phen, I feel euphoric...ecstatic about nothing at all. Then I become a little nauseated around mid-day. One thing that I, along with anyone I know, have noticed overall--I can become quite "*****y". Sometimes, I feel as though I'm not quite myself. I've been told that it's only been a few weeks since I've started, so maybe these side-effects will eventually taper off, but who knows.

Dealing with being overweight, I know, is a struggle for each and everyone of us. I wish you all luck.

Christy

[cokmille]

I have been on and off of phentermine for many years now. I am so glad I found this forum. I thought I was going crazy. Although I am not happy to hear that others have some of the horrible side effects that I have, I feel comfort in knowing I am not the only one. My weight is up and down and when I try to get off of phentermine my weight comes back so I get back on it. I am a different person while I am phentermine. I am so moody, angry and down right mean. I am very irritable all the time and the smallest things set me off. My family thinks I have just become this mean angry person. I can not tell them I am on these pills because my husband would flip also, I am ordering them from the internet w/o a prescription because my physician would no longer give them to me. I barely get any sleep and this only adds to the problem. After reading the posts and realizing that these feelings are side effects of phentermine I now know I need to get off of phentermine completely but it is so hard. It is so easy to control my appetite while on phentermine and because I have been on it for so long I am sure I am addicted. Has anyone else had these feelings and been able to get off of and stay off of phentermine? If so how long did it take to return back to normal? Thanks

[susano]

Hi all,

At the risk of sounding like a drug pusher I would like to share with you what has worked for me in controlling the negative side effects of phentermine. It is valium. Whenever I want to go to sleep and I feel that I can't I take a valium (10 mg.) and soon I am asleep and wake up refreshed. If I have side effects that I don't like during the day, like: feeling tense, dizzy, like I'm going crazy, etc. I take 1/4 of a valium and almost instantly the side effects are better. The valium seems to cancel out the phentermine but NOT the appetite supressant part which makes it perfect. I have been able to purchase valium on line pretty cheap (.50 cents ea.) and so this is my system for now. I find that phen. works so well for me to surpress the appetite but I hate hate hate the side effects so much. But I want to lose weight and this is working for me. I'd like to find a better place to purchase the phen. from than the last place I got them from which was in Puerto Rico. It took a long time to arrive and they sold my name and email address so I've been bombarted with ** spam ever since. Anyone know a good inexpensive place to order from? Thanks, Suzie

[cmclyko]

Ok, Im new to phen but would like to share my two cents as well. The effects (and I really dont want to sound bad here either with the drug connotations), but in all honesty I think most of the emotional effects differ from person to person. It has made me kind of a grumpy bear towards my gf and she will point it out when I am not so friendly. Now onto the other side effects. When I was a teen I experimented with various designer drugs i.e, LSD, Ecstacy, Methamphetamine etc... Phen shows ALOT of the same side effects you would experience with these types of stimulants. I also get to speaking a million words a minute, feelings of euphoria and have actually had some mild hallucinations as well such as colors and so forth. But Ive noticed I only have the stronger effects in the first two hours of the drug kicking in. Sleeping has been horrible. I took sleeping pills one night and it made me feel like I was going to die, I think it really counteracted the drug and just made me feel horrible. I usually have a few night caps now to relax me, but even then I still only get a few hrs of sleep and I am back up all wired. And Susano I wanted to ask you where you got the Valium at for so cheap, I think I might look into trying that too whrn I get all of the weird effects of Phen. As far as other weight loss methods for those of you that cant stand to take phen anymore I would recommend trying the South Beach Diet, and reading a book called Sugarbusters. My girlfriend tried the SouthBeach diet and had some really good results. Also weight loss is dependant on the ammounts, and types of foods we choose to put in our bodies. If you eat Fast Food.. you're not going to lose weight, if you dont count calories..... you're not going to lose weight, etc.. etc... Good Luck to everyone in their pursuit of acheiving their weight loss goals

[megchrisl]

I think that people who are having these strange side effects should get help-immediately. You are addicted!.

[wave]

As far as side effects & addiction to phen, it seems to me that the people without side effects might be more likely to experience tolerance.
Phen stops working after a couple of weeks so addiction is not really the issue, tolerance is. Perhaps some people enjoy phen, so psycholocical addiction could be a factor. I know when i go off it for a few weeks I kind of miss it it, but I don't crave it.
Anyway, I thought I'd share my thoughts on sleeping & phen & benzodiazapams.
I take phen 3 or 4 times a week for a couple of weeks, stop for a couple of weeks, go back for a couple of weeks so as to avoid tolerance.(I lost 60 lbs with WW & lots of exercise)
I also use a lttle valium (a benzodiazapam)to sleep when using phen.
However, one does have to watch out for benzo tolerance. Once you've been taking valium (a benzo) you can develop tolerance, it stops working unless you up the dose, and if you've been taking more than a little bit and then quit suddenly you can get uncomfortable withdrawel symptoms.
I took ativan (a benzo like valium)last year for a long plane trip & then kept taking it for 6 weeks because it was so stressful visiting my inlaws in a foriegn country (where I could buy ativan otc!) I had to do a taper off the med, slowly reducing my dose in about 2 weeks to nothing. For more info on tolerance/addiction to benzodiazapams:
http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/index.htm

there are always risk factors when taking drugs, i hope everybody here taking phen is watching their blood pressure!

"I'm not a doctor, i just play one on the internet!"

[PhenBunny]

When I first started taking phentermine, i experienced the some of the same side effects, the euphoric feeling, and the going crazy feeling due to sleep deprivation, for a week at work i felt that i could not focus when people would talk me. But, after a while, it seemed to get moderately better, although not a lot. Once my month's prescription was up, I had gotten down to my goal weight so I stopped taking them for about 3 months,

just recently i have started taking them again, and I haven't had any of the side effects at all. I sleep pretty normal, and I don't get that euphoric feeling, but my appetite is completely under control, it's awesome. I guess everyone's body reacts differently, however I'm only 105 lbs, so I would expect the side effects to affect me more, yet it doesn't. I only take 1 37.5 mg pill a day.... are the ones with heavy side effects taking a higher dosage by chance?

[PhenBunny]

i forgot to mention, i actually end up skipping days here and there, so i probably take them about 3-4 days of the week (not every day) - i think that may help as well.

[lynx1830]

In an earlier post, PhenBunny asked if there was anyone out there with similar stats. Well, mine are, or at least were at one time--you keep getting smaller. I just discovered this forum on Sunday, having only learned of Phen the week before.

I'm 47, happily married, no kids, 5' 2 (when I stand tall), 140 lbs with "bird bones". In other words, I have a really small frame. (I weighed 94 in college and didn't look skinny.) I would love to lose 20 lbs, could stand to lose 30 pounds, and only dream of losing 40.

I placed my first order for 30/30 phen from this site but got news today that I was denied. I felt crushed--just as I was feeling hopeful.

So, with similar stats, how did you do it? Do you order on-line? How do you know if it's a trusted site? The real deal.

Please, PM if you prefer.

lynx1830@yahoo.com

[Girlie31285]

I want to know why you are taking the phen if your only 105-140 pounds?? That is not overweight! Why did your doctor even give this to you? I had to be atleast 175 pounds before my doctor would give it to me becasue I had asked him about this medician when I got pregnant for after I had the baby and he said well if you get over 170 then well see what happens. Boy did i get over 170. But he just made it seem like people that arent that overweight should NOT take this med. Im just wondering! THanks!

[naz51]

No one should take phentermine without a doctor's guidance. This drug is not meant to be used by people who suffer from depression, use anti-depressants and an entire long list of other medications. Please see Phentermine Information on this site. This includes coffee, tea, alcohol and even asthma and cold medications.

I understand your pain, and know how difficult weight loss can be, but is it worth taking the chance that you might wreck your life?

I am reading about people who are mixing this drug with sleeping pills, valium, alcohol, prednizone, antidepressants and even thyroid medication. It's hard to believe a physician would prescribe Phentermine if he/she knew what else was going on with you.

A red rashy symptom brought me to this topic and there are side effects. Without combining this stuff with other meds you can have hypertension, headaches, dizziness, dry mouth, blurred vision, irritability, stomach upset, just to name a few. Does your doctor know your complete medical history? Heart attack, stroke, and any number of medical emergencies could occur by mixing drugs, etc.

I'm no angel, but while taking phentermine, it's too risky to mix it up with anything but healthy food, a sensible exercise plan, and plenty of water.

Please take care of yourself, and stop taking the Phentermine if it's making you feel depression, anziety, anger or severe sadness. It's not worth it. Part of the program is to train yourself to eat less, exercise more, and hopefully not on depend on food for happiness.

[nykki]

Hello

Naz51 is right. The pill is not designed for long term use, just to help you to learn to eat better and work out. If the pill is making you like that stop taking the pill or find other methods to loose the weight. Keep in mind anything other than the old fashion way you will have side effects. Alwasy do what is best for you after seeing all sides to your future choice.I do wish you luck with your weight loss goals and hope thing have gotten better for you since you have posted this message.

[nina_in408]

cmclyko, i agree with you on phen making you feel like your on something. I have experimented in the past myself. And meth works in some ways alot like phen. You dont eat, you cant sleep, tons of energy, paranoid. Luckily for me, the phen only gave me those symptoms the first 2 days after that it was fine. I think each person differs in how it effects them. I dont think because you get side effects you are addicted, it just how your body responds to the phen. Just like alcohol when people drink, some people get happy others violent and so on. I do know feeling those side effects are not a good feeling, hopefully you find something to help. Just to feel normal. Good Luck

[fat&sassy]

I have been taking phen for almost a year now and haven't had any trouble......I don't take it everyday, and I NEVER take it past 9 am. I drink a ton of coffee everyday, but don't get shaky feeling, I can sleep and I've lost around 30 pounds. My doc won't give me anymore, and I want to get them online. No I'm not addicted, but I like them, they give me the extra push I need, I can take it or not, usually I only take it on Mondays and maybe Tuesdays. Some weeks I need them but some weeks I don't. I have 10 - 15 pounds to go and will NOT give up!

[nina_in408]

fat&sassy, so you lost 30 lbs total? Did that take a year? I was curious because this is my 3rd month and the weight loss had definately slowed down. I am still losing but slowly. Thanks!

[fat&sassy]

30 so far~ but I'm not ready to give up yet! No, it didn't take a year, it took around 6 - 7 months. I'm sure it would have come off alot quicker had I excercised, but I'm scared of that! Several years ago, I'd lost a lot from simply walking and salads, I would walk 6 miles a day (3 in morning and 3 in evening), then I got pregnant! I was horribly sick and tired, therefore I couldn't walk, and all of that muscle in my legs turned to mush! This round I decided to wait to tone when I hit my goal (130 lbs) so I didn't bulk up to much and lose everything again!
Now, I'm at a stand still and my doc won't give me anymore phen.............so we'll see what's ahead.

[phenfanella]

Okay, I am all for phen- it works well for me. I am not addicted to it, the last time I needed it for weight loss was over three years ago, before I had my son. I experience side effects that completely **** but they do go away for me. I do not think that you should be taking phen if you are 105 lbs- I mean what could your goal weight be? I dont order it online- I get a ** from my doctor, the same dr that I have had for 9 years. I also take xanax- same dr. **'s it, took it before phen. The worst part of this drug is the side effects- bottom line. If the side effects dont go away for months and your family thinks you are "acting out", maybe a lower dose is an option before throwing in the towel? Taking phen only every other day is also helpful to me when I initially start the med.

[angelgirlnhb]

I suffer from depression and have been on Trazasdone for 3+ years. My doctor and pharmacist both said it was find to take Phen with it. In fact I have spoken with a couple of doctors that actually perscribe Trazadone along with Phen. Trazadone is an antidepressant that has a sleeping aid in it. You have to take it at night. I love it! I spent 7 years of my life in deep sucicdal depression. I thought I would never see the light of day and enjoy life. Since taking Trazadone, my life has changed 100%! This is my second time taking Phen while on it. Things seem to be fine.

[FashionModel]

Im not an expert, but maybe counselling would help you with the emotional issues, or massage, its very relaxing. *hugs*

You deserve better, dont be so hard on yoruself.

[mommy mull]

Lynx1830-It is people like you who make it difficult for people with real weight issues! It is people like you that over use the products that work and get it banned!! It is people like you that OD on ephedra because you have a pyschological disorder not a WEIGHT PROBLEM!!!Please leave these products alone so you don't ruin it for the people who take it responsibly!!!!!

[LenoraG.]

Hi Mommy Mull ~ I'm Momma Giuntoli
Was just reading through posts and want to add my thoughts on what you've written because I just may be one of those you think shouldn't be concerned about a weight issue...and I am.
I used to be incredibly fit and probably skinny, Although I never really felt skinny, I now have clothes that I can't beleive I ever wore. I've gained 30 pounds in the last 5 years. And I know I wouldn't be considered fat BUT...
Do I have to get fat first to get respect? If I continue on this road it will happen and I don't want to be there. I can't seem to control my sugar cravings. Days that you do well, get exercise, drink water, etc. then get on the scale to see you've gained are depressing no matter what you weigh.
I am the only one in my family that does not have adult onset diabetes. My sister (and I love her like crazy) looks like Jabba the Hutt when she sits down, has congestive heart failure, and I worry that she may not live to retire. My Mom had her stomach stapled and still managed to shove enough donuts into her mouth to gain back 100 punds after an incredible loss of weight.
Wanting to control weight before it becomes a BIG issue is not crazy.

[bocabunny]

Lenora,

I completely agree with you. You don't have to let it get too far before you're 'allowed' to take measures to control your weight gain.

[StellaBlue]

I just wanted to say a few things about benzos(valium,xanax,ativan,etc).

IF YOUR DOCTOR SUGGESTS THEM...RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!

When I was a teen and in my early 20's I tried alot of drugs.By about 23 I stopped all of them until one day someone offered me meth..so I tried it and was hooked right away..it was fun and I lost a bunch of weight w/out trying.Once I became involved w/meth..all of the people that did meth also did didrex and adipex(phen) and so I tried those too.Also fastine(sp?)..anyway..point is..I used all of these and at some point someone offered me a xanax that I took and it really helped relax me so that I could sleep..or just not be so nervous.
So it begins...
I am not sure how long after I started these precription cocktails it took..but I had my first panic attack.That was a nightmare and they kept happening so I went to see a doctor about them who prescribed ativan and they worked great.Oh btw..as soon as I started having panic attacks..I stopped all forms of speed(legal or not it's still speed) and caffiene.
So I was taking ativan and it was working great and then I switched to xanax cause it was cheaper..and at some point I switched to valium.
The benzos work well and fast and just as fast your tolerence grows and you need a higher and higher dosage and if you miss one or forget them on a trip or think you're going to run out before your next script ..you COMPLETELY freak out.It really does control your life..you can't make a move w/out making sure your pills are in order.I decided to stop taking the xanax at one point and after about 1 day off of them I could not sleep(u think phen keeps u awake) I was shaking and was super achey.After 2 days off them..I was hallucanating(sp?) and seeing #'s and my sis-in-law took me to the ER where they put me back on them.
That was the first attempt to get off of them.
Next I decided that the valium was milder than the xanax and started them instead still wanting to stop.Well...IT IS JUST SOOOOOOO SCAREY GETTING OFF OF THOSE KINDS OF MEDS!It's hard also when you have your own script and your doctor says it's ok to take something..u think it must be..and it's EASY to be in denial because it's "legal".
Sorry to be rambling on the only real point I was trying to make is...after taking those for about 8 yrs...I am finally off of them thanks to getting pregnant.But I had to go through the withdrawel while I was pregnant and just want to help people really know how awefl these drugs are once it's time to stop taking them.It is so mentally and phyically painful to withdrawel from those drugs and the withdrawels lasted about 6 mths.
It really isn't worth it to start...they work too good and they hook real fast and they REALLY hurt to come off of.
I don't even have panic attacks or GAD anymore but I wouldn't have known it if I had never stopped taking the hell drugs.

Really really sorry that took so long.


Ps..mixing speed and downers whether legal or not is "speedballing" and is very dangerous!

[saph]

I am sorry for those of you who are experiencing so many bad side effects. Im not sure I would have lasted as long as you have. I have only been taking Phen since May 4. I experienced a spaced out feeling for about a week and only had 2 days of irregular sleeping. Occassionally now I have very slight dizziness but apart from that I have no side effects at all now.

I do wonder tho, Is the drug as effective as it should be, considering I have no side effects..I am going back to the Dr. next week and not sure whether to ask for a higher dosage or not..Im taking 30mg now and I am losing weight still but wondering if I could be losing more...Sorry if this sounds a bit bazzar, but im just curious to hear if anyone else is in the same boat...