Phendimetrazine.

Generic name: phendimetrazine (fen di MEH tra zeen).
Brand names: Adipost, Anorex-SR, Appecon, Bontril PDM, Bontril Slow-Release, Melfiat, Obezine, Phendiet, Plegine, Prelu-2, Statobex.

Most important info about phendimetrazine.

Phendimetrazine is known to cause dizziness, blurred vision, or restlessness and may also hide the symptoms of extreme exhaustion, so you are recommended to be careful when driving, operating heavy machinery or performing other potentially hazardous activities or even avoid them if you have any of the unpleasant side effects stated above.

Phendimetrazine is habit-forming, which means that you may become addicted to it both physically and psychologically. You may suffer from withdrawal effects in case you quit continuous therapy with phendimetrazine all of a sudden. You should talk with your doctor about possible ways of stopping this medicine gradually even before you start taking it.

Phendimetrazine is available in the form of extended-release tablets or capsules that should be taken whole. Do not crash, break or chew them since it may lead to more intense release of the drug and, therefore, to a heavy overdose.

If you happen to be in need of any medical or dental treatments, emergency medical care or surgery, remember to tell the therapist doing these that you are using phendimetrazine.

Safety and effectiveness of use of phendimetrazine in children under 12 years of age have not been confirmed yet, thus you are not recommended to use this medication to treat children.

What is phendimetrazine?

Phendimetrazine is an "anorectic" or "anorexigenic" drug used to stimulate the central nervous system (nerves and brain), which results in a significant increase of your heart rate and blood pressure and in a significant decrease of your appetite. Phendimetrazine is a sympathomimetic amine, which is similar to an amphetamine.

Phendimetrazine is used as a part of a complex system aiming at the treatment of obesity. The other components of this system are low-fat diet and regular physical exercise.

The information provided above doesn't state all possible uses of phendimetrazine. Address your doctor if you have any questions concerning this matter.

Contra-indications.

You will not be allowed to take phendimetrazine if you have any of the following conditions:
- heart disease or high blood pressure;
- arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries);
- glaucoma;
- a history of drug or alcohol abuse; or
- if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelzine (Nardil) within the past 2 weeks.

Prior to starting therapy with phendimetrazine, you will have to tell your doctor if you have any of the following:
- problems with your thyroid,
- an anxiety disorder,
- epilepsy or another seizure disorder, or
- diabetes.

Due to any of the conditions listed above you may not be able to take phendimetrazine or you may need a special dosage adjustment. Your doctor may also suggest you pass through a series of tests during the course of phendimetrazine treatment.

Researches hasn't shown whether phendimetrazine can do any harm to an unborn baby if taken by a pregnant woman or not, so you are not recommended to use this med during pregnancy. It's also not clear whether phendimetrazine passes into breast milk or not, so you shouldn't use it while breast-feeding a baby.

Usage instructions.

Always follow your doctor's prescription exactly when taking phendimetrazine. If some points stated in the prescription are not clear to you, don't hesitate to check with your doctor again or consult with your pharmacist. Phendimetrazine is assimilated best when taken with a full glass of water.

Phendimetrazine is currently available in two forms – extended-release formula and immediate-release formula. The first is usually taken once a day, the second one – 2-3 times a day before meals on an empty stomach. Remember, you shouldn't take phendimetrazine before sleep since it may cause insomnia. Always swallow phendimetrazine pills whole, since crashing, breaking or chewing them may result in an overdose of the drug.

Never exceed the recommended dose or the prescribed period of treatment. Phendimetrazine can be dangerous when taken in large doses or habit-forming when taken for a period longer than prescribed.

Proper storage of phendimetrazine:
Phendimetrazine should be stored at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). However, short-term storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is allowed. Protect phendimetrazine from excess heat, moisture and from direct sunlight. Do not keep it in bathroom. Make sure that the place you keep this med in is safe and is placed out of the reach of children and away from pets.

Missed dose.

If you happen to miss a dose of phendimetrazine, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it's already close to the time for the next dose, skip the missed one and keep on taking phendimetrazine according to your normal schedule. Never double the dose of phendimetrazine in attempt to catch up since that may lead to a heavy overdose.

Overdose.

The following symptoms can serve as a sign of overdose with phendimetrazine: restlessness, tremor, rapid breathing, confusion, hallucinations, panic, aggressiveness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, an irregular heartbeat, and seizures. If you suspect an overdose with phendimetrazine, seek emergency medical help.

Is there anything I should avoid during the therapy with phendimetrazine?

You may have to avoid driving, operating heavy machinery and performing other potentially hazardous activities that require you to be fully awake and alert due to certain side effects of phendimetrazine, including: dizziness, blurred vision, or restlessness. It may also hide the symptoms of extreme exhaustion, which only adds to the side effects stated above.

Try to avoid using phendimetrazine before sleep since it may cause insomnia.

Possible side effects.

Here is the list of serious side effects of phendimetrazine. Stop taking it and seek for medical attention immediately if you experience any of these:
- an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
- heart arrhythmia or extremely high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision); or
- hallucinations, abnormal behavior, or confusion.

The side effects stated above do not happen very frequently. However, less serious side effects of phendimetrazine are more likely to occur. Continue taking the med according to your normal schedule and check with your doctor if you have any of these side effects:
- restlessness or tremor,
- nervousness or anxiety,
- headache or dizziness,
- insomnia,
- dry mouth or an unpleasant taste in your mouth,
- diarrhea or constipation, or
- erectile dysfunction or decreased libido.

Researches and reports by patients using phendimetrazine show that it may be habit-forming. You may become addicted to this medication (both physically and psychologically) and may suffer from withdrawal effects if you suddenly stop the therapy. Talk to your doctor about the ways of stopping phendimetrazine gradually prior to starting to take it.

This article doesn't list all possible side effects of phendimetrazine. If you happen to experience some bothersome new or worsening old side effect, contact your doctor for assistance.

Possible drug interactions.

Never take phendimetrazine earlier than 14 days after the last intake of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelzine (Nardil).

During the treatment with phendimetrazine you may need to get your insulin and other diabetes drug therapies changed.

It's known that phendimetrazine may reduce the effects produced by guanethidine (Ismelin). The result of this interaction may be a significant rise of blood pressure. Tell your doctor if you are taking guanethidine prior to starting the treatment with phendimetrazine.

Some drugs can decrease the effects of phendimetrazine, so always tell your doctor if you are using any of the following meds prior to the beginning of the therapy with this drug: amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), clomipramine (Anafranil), protriptyline (Vivactil), or desipramine (Norpramin).

This article doesn't provide full information about possible drug interactions with phendimetrazine. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you want to know more about these. Always tell your doctor about all prescription and over-the-counter meds that you are currently using before starting to take phendimetrazine.

Sources of additional information about phendimetrazine.

If you are in need of additional information on phendimetrazine, don't hesitate to address your pharmacist.

PLEASE NOTE: phendimetrazine should be kept out of the reach of children. Never share it with other people, especially the ones to whom it wasn't prescribed. Use phendimetrazine only for purposes stated in your prescription. Never exceed the dose or the period of treatment without first consulting your doctor. In case your symptoms do not improve or even become worse, contact your therapist immediately.

Remember that this article is intended for informational use only. The administration of this site is not authorized to dispense any recommendations or any specific medical advice. The information provided herein is not intended to be full and cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects of phendimetrazine. The absence of a specific warning doesn't mean that phendimetrazine is safe, effective or appropriate for a given patient. The information offered herein is time sensitive and can be changed or made more accurate with time. If you happen to be in need of full information on phendimetrazine, address your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.