DrugindexOnline^{2nd edition}

Generic Name: Phentermine Capsules and Tablets (FEN-ter-meen)
Brand Name: Examples include Adipex P and Pro-Fast SA

Adipex P is used for:

Reducing weight in obese patients when used short-term and combined with exercise, diet, and behavioral modification.

Adipex P is an appetite suppressant. It works by helping to release certain chemicals in the brain that control appetite.

Do NOT use Adipex P if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Adipex P or other sympathomimetics (eg, pseudoephedrine)
• you are taking dexfenfluramine, fenfluramine, furazolidone, guanadrel, guanethidine, or have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (eg, phenelzine) in the last 14 days
• you have moderate to severe high blood pressure, an overactive thyroid, glaucoma, heart or blood vessel disease, or severe narrowing of the blood vessels
• you are in an agitated state, or have a history of substance abuse

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Adipex P :

Some medical conditions may interact with Adipex P . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a brain or spinal cord disorder, hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol or lipid levels

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Adipex P . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Dexfenfluramine, fenfluramine, furazolidone, or MAOIs (eg, phenelzine) because the risk of serious side effects, such as increasing headache, high blood pressure, slow heart rate, elevated temperature, or possibly fatal lung problems, may be increased
• Serotonin specific reuptake inhibitors (eg, fluoxetine) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Adipex P
• Guanadrel or guanethidine because their effectiveness may be decreased by Adipex P

Ask your health care provider if Adipex P may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Adipex P :

Use Adipex P as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Adipex P about 30 minutes before a meal.
• Take your last dose of Adipex P at least 4 to 6 hours before bedtime.
• If you are taking Adipex P 1 time a day, take your dose in the morning.
• If you miss a dose of Adipex P , take it as soon as possible. If it is after 12 pm and you are taking Adipex P 1 time a day, or after 4 pm and you are taking it more than 1 time a day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Adipex P .

Important safety information:

• Adipex P may cause dizziness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Adipex P with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Do NOT take more than the recommended dose or use for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor. Doing so may increase the risk of serious side effects.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Adipex P before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• Before you have any medical or dental treatments, emergency care, or surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using Adipex P .
• Avoid drinking alcohol with Adipex P .
• Diabetes patients-Adipex P may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Adipex P is not recommended for use in CHILDREN younger than 12 years old; safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Adipex P while you are pregnant. It is not known if Adipex P is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Adipex P .

After you have taken Adipex P for a few weeks, it will usually not work as well as when you began taking it. This is known at TOLERANCE. Talk with your doctor if Adipex P stops working well. Do not take more medicine than prescribed.

Some people who use Adipex P for a long time may develop a need to continue taking it. People who take high doses are also at risk. This is known as DEPENDENCE or addiction. If you stop taking Adipex P suddenly, you may have WITHDRAWAL symptoms. These may include extreme tiredness, mental depression, trouble sleeping, irritability, or mental, mood, or personality changes.

Possible side effects of Adipex P :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Bad taste in mouth; changes in sex drive; constipation; diarrhea; difficulty sleeping; dizziness; dry mouth; exaggerated sense of well being; headache; impotence; nervousness; overstimulation; restlessness; sleeplessness; upset stomach.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bizarre behavior; chest pain; fainting; fast heartbeat; pounding in the chest; shortness of breath; swelling of the legs and feet; tremor.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include confusion; diarrhea; nausea; rapid breathing; restlessness; stomach cramps; tremor; vomiting.

Proper storage of Adipex P :

Store Adipex P at room temperature, between 59 and 77 degrees F (15 and 25 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Adipex P out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Adipex P , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Adipex P is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Adipex P . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.