APPETITE SUPPRESSANTS: Benefits, Risks, Side Effects

Appetite suppressants are drugs that aim to decrease your appetite in order to help curb the emotional impulse to eat large quantities of food or sugar while trying to loss weight.  Appetite suppressants should NOT be used as a substitute for proper diet or exercise. For maximum results, they must be used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and/or exercise. Any modifications in your diet, activity level, and behavior must be continued long-term in order to continue losing weight and prevent the lost weight from returning. To learn more about the appetite suppressants most commonly recommended by Dr. Bird, visit the About Appetite Suppressants page.

Benefits of Prescription Appetite Suppressants

Benefits of using Appetite Suppressants include:

• Research as shown that individuals using appetite suppressants could lose as much as 5 to 10 percent of their body weight.
• All appetite suppressants used by transformyou are FDA-approved for weight loss.
• Less of an emotional dependence on food.
• Ability to mentally focus for longer without eating.

Potential Risks

The risks associated with appetite suppressants come mainly from side effects which is why it is so important to start using appetite suppressants after being cleared by a licensed medical doctor.

You should inform your doctor is you suffer from, or have suffered from:

• Advanced Atherosclerosis
• Alcohol Abuse
• Allergic reaction to any of the ingredients found in appetite suppressants
• Diabetes Mellitus (sugar diabetes) -- It may be necessary to change the amount of insulin or oral anti diabetic medicine that you take.
• Drug Abuse or Dependence - Dependence on Phentermine may be more likely to develop.
• Family History of Mental Illness - Mental depression or other mental illness may be more likely to occur.
• Glaucoma
• Hyperthyroidism (over-active thyroid) -- Phentermine may worsen the condition.
• Kidney Disease - The chance of serious side effects may increase due to higher blood levels of Phentermine.
• Mental Illness
• Moderate to Severe Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Symptomatic Cardiovascular Disease
• The use of a Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) inhibitor within the last 2 weeks
• It is not known if Phentermine or Phendimetrazine cause birth defects in humans. Tell Dr. Bird if you are pregnant or attempting to become pregnant.

Possible Side Effects

When taking appetite suppressants, you should contact our office immediately if you notice:

• Chest pain
• Numbness
• Blurred vision or eye pain
• Decreased ability to exercise
• Fainting
• Swelling of feet or lower legs
• Trouble in breathing

Other possible side effects include:

• Sweating
• Nausea
• Anorexia
• Upper respiratory infection
• Confusion
• Constipation
• Insomnia
• Drowsiness
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Extreme thirst
• Higher heart rate
• Higher blood pressure
• Abdominal cramping
• Excessive and irregular bowel movement
• Extreme weakness and fatigue

If you have additional questions about appetite suppressants and the benefits and risks that come from taking them, consider a free consultation with one of our physicians. Schedule this free, no obligation consultation by calling 480-839-4131 or by filling out a consultation request form located throughout the website.

The Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program (CSPMP) is a program developed to promote the public health and welfare by detecting diversion, abuse and misuse of prescription medications classified as controlled substances under the Arizona Uniform Controlled Substances Act.  Every Physician who possesses a DEA registration is required to also possess a CSPMP registration issued by the Arizona Board of Pharmacy. At transformyou we adhere to Arizona's CSPMP policy before prescribing a controlled substance to any patient.

transformyou serves patients in the Phoenix AZ area including Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Ahwatukee, Peoria, Glendale, Avondale and Fountain Hills. All patients always work directly with one of our physicians to ensure patient safety and confidentiality.