How to Survive the First Month on Phentermine

Phentermine is the current weight loss prescription drug of choice, and for some people, it has produced pretty amazing results. It helps curb the appetite and rev the metabolism to help people lose weight. But some of the side effects of phentermine can make the drug very difficult to stick with, particularly within the first month. Before starting phentermine, patients should know what to expect and how to help combat the discomfort of the side effects.

Headache, nausea, lightheadedness

Phentermine works for weight loss because it tricks the brain into thinking that the body isn't hungry, so you don't eat. Being unable to listen to your body's signals regarding hunger, it can be difficult to tell when you truly need to eat. In my experience, when I started getting a headache, feeling queasy and dizzy, and getting shaky, I knew I needed to get some food, even if I didn't feel hungry. It can be difficult to force yourself to eat when you feel sick, so I found it was important to notice these signals before they got too strong.

What I ate at this point also seemed to make a huge difference. Carbs are what always sounded good, but protein made me feel better faster and for longer than other types of food. A small piece of cheese or a half of a chicken breast was enough to make the symptoms subside for a good stretch of time and yet still allow me to achieve safe and yet significant weight loss.

Trouble sleeping

Some people have a lot of trouble sleeping during the first month on phentermine as one of the side effects. Speeding up your body is partly how phentermine helps with weight loss, so the time of day you take your dose can make a tremendous difference in how well you sleep. I didn't have a problem with this particular issue, but I was told to take my pill two hours after breakfast for optimum weight loss effect. As long as I didn't eat too much later than normal, I was able to wind down pretty easily 12 hours later.

Extremely dry mouth

The doctor and the pamphlet accompanying the phentermine both warned that dry mouth was a possible side effect. At the time, I was on another couple of medications that caused the same sort of problem, and I didn't drink anything except water all day, so I wasn't too worried about not being hydrated enough. I quickly learned I was wrong.

Your mouth may become so pasty dry that you have difficulty going more than a few minutes without water. To counter this side effect, be sure to have bottles of water available that you can take with you wherever you go. Don't even plan to go to the grocery store for an hour without needing some water. I also carried sugar-free hard candies to help keep the moisture flowing, and that helped, particularly when having a bottle of water wasn't feasible.

Swollen throat

By far the most disturbing side effect during the first month of phentermine was the feeling that my throat was swelling closed. I was worried about it being an allergic reaction, but the problem never got bad enough that I needed to get emergency help. It turns out that this feeling is very common that first month, and that it isn't actually the entire throat swelling but the uvula (the little dangling thing).

Taking ibuprofen and allergy pills didn't help. Staying well-hydrated did, a little. But nothing helped tremendously. The swelling was uncomfortable and frightening enough that I stopped taking the phentermine for several days while I waited for the swelling to dissipate. Once it did, I started up the dose again, and the swelling did return after about a week, but then it was about time for me to stop taking the phentermine for a while. (My doctor had told me to use it for 6 weeks and then go off it for 3 weeks each time.) When I resumed after the 3-week break, there was no more swelling.

Sticking it out

What is important to remember is that for most people, including myself, the side effects from phentermine typically only last the first month or so. I'm still taking it, and I have had none of these issues since that first month even though the weight loss has continued. Of course, it's always important to discuss any side effects and concerns you have about them with your doctor, but do consider that phentermine has been safe and effective for many people who have tried it. Surviving that first month may allow you to continue taking phentermine long enough to get some real results and get you kick started on weight loss and the road to good health.