Anyone have experience with Phentermine addiction/withdrawl?

[PharmGirl75]

Since I've been lurking, and posting here and there- I thought it was finally time to get my burning question answered by all the smart folks here- I guess two burning questions.
Does anyone here have experience with Phentermine? My doctor let me talk him into it for weight loss last June. It's supposed to be only taken for 8-12 weeks, but since I've kept losing weight and my blood pressure stays low, he's kept refilling my prescription.
I take 37.5 mg once a day. I know this drug is a stimulant, etc. and it can become addictive. Every once in a while-- like today-- I don't take it, just to see if *not* taking it bugs me. I guess it doesn't, per say- I guess I'm tired earlier today than usual, and maybe I'll sleep w/o having to take a Xanax or Lunesta...
But does that mean I'm not addicted to it? Is it possible that if I don't take it tomorrow, or the next day, etc. that suddenly I will have some withdrawl sypmtoms? Has anyone ever taken Phentermine for a long time, and then quit, who can let me know what I can expect (aside from not cleaning my house like a manic crazy lady!)

Burning question number 2- since I've been using Xanax recently for sleep (I do have a taper program to follow) but can I become addicted to it just using it for a good night sleep? I will go read the documentation about signs of addiction myself, but was wondering from the experience here. My friend told me I would know I was addicted if I was wanting to take it more often, counting the minutes until I could take it, or trying to figure out how to get more of it. I haven't experienced any of that- but I do like the good night sleep it gives me.
Thanks!
Pharmgirl

[Thebiggirl]

Hi , I was taking phetermine for a yr and so and been of for 4 mnths I feel so bad like eating every thing very tired  I sont know what to do they wont prescribe me more what should I do? ?

[Musicroses]

I started phenteramine 3 years ago i was over 410 pounds and after i lost 230 Dr. Took me off it. It was like a huge withdrawl for me i literally lock my self in my room and it took 1 week. I felt so silly. Yet im back on it and  hopeing to be easier on the withdrawls. I like it to help but i dont know if i can put up with the roller coaster after. Im not on here alot matter fact i only have ever posted this one inreguards,to a medical post. Iv had ovarion cancer and that was much easier to deal with. Dont get me wrong i love the fact im now thin but the troubles that come along are herendious! If you got any ?s you wanna ask me im at ***@****

[crazybiotch]

Thanks I needed to hear that, This is my second month, ppl really get on my last nerve and I am mean! I dont even like myself!
I say such ugly things..... and I hate it after I do it I felel like crap and then I go off somewhere and cry because I did that. I was wondering if it could be the phentermine or if I was just a terrible person.

[hopeisthere]

I my self became very dependent on it. It started w. The desire fir weight loss. I soon within 2 months became very dependent on it after loosing 22 lbs. I was at my highschool weight. I was loving it at first. I had extreme energy,  concentration, cleaned  the hz,  work and took  care of my little ones.my husband did not know I was taking phentermine and was proud of my "hard work" I looked good, and seemed happier then ever.  Little by little that started to all change. I became a monster,  a total b***. I would get violent quick if some one would even cut in line in  front of me. I became irritable quick, I even would get upset if my kids talked to me. I was out control counting the mins to take my " feel good pill" as soon as I did I wad happy again,  2 to 3 hours after I was back to been a monster.  The  effect was no longer lasting 8 hours at it did at the beginning.  I would  take by now 2 pills a day  at 37 mlg. I would stay up at night,  would over work myself during the day, eat about 500 calories . Until I started getting super depressed over this cycle I had no control of. I was addicted.  I was ashamed.  I was not me, loosing my self and mental well being.  I became super slim,  for what? No one around me was happy.  Specially not me.  I did not lookhave healthy . Eventually I became so depressed it lead me to suicidal thoughts.  Yet i could. Bare the idea of stopmy taking it because the times i tried my withdrawls were strong , I was hungry all the time.Physically I was getting sick. Blur vision,  acne, loosing hair, stomach pain, dizziness,  palpitations, depression,   insomnia and worst  anxiety.  I decided id give it up and try loving myself again. Took it day by day. Joined a gym,  took vitamins for energy and well being.  Eat healthy . Little by little had the will to leave phentermine for once and for all. I listened to the signs around me and made the change before it was too late.Im now proud to say I maintained my weight, the right way :) it can be done I promise.

. Legal or not legal anything substance we depend on will destroy us. If ur someone like me that is going thru. this. ..know that "it can get better " you have to  make the choice. Pray.  Hope is there , your not alone.

[hopeisthere]

I my self became very dependent on it. It started w. The desire fir weight loss. I soon within 2 months became very dependent on it after loosing 22 lbs. I was at my highschool weight. I was loving it at first. I had extreme energy,  concentration, cleaned  the hz,  work and take care of my little ones.my husband did not know I was taking phentermine and was proud of my "you hard work" I looked good, and seemed happier then ever.  Little by little that started to all change. I became a monster,  a total b***. I would get violent quick if some one would even cut in line in  front of me. I became irritable quick, I even would get upset if my kids talked to me. I was out control counting the mins to take my " feel good pill" as soon as I did I wad happy again,  2 to 3 hours after I was back to been a monster.  Tge effect was notaking longer lasting. I wouldwas take by now 2 pillsto a daygym at 37 mlg. I would stay up at night,  would over work myself during the day, eat about 500 calories . Until I started getting super depressed over this cycle I had no control of. I was addicted.  I was ashamed.  I was not me, loosing my self and mental well being.  I became super slim,  for what? No one around me was happy.  Specially not me. Eventually I became so depressed it lead me to suicidal thoughts. Physically I was getting sick. Blur vision,  acne, loosing hair, stomach pain, dizziness,  palpitations, depression,   insomnia and worst  anxiety.  I decided id give it up and try loving myself again. Took it day by day. Joined a gym,  took vitamins for energy and well being.  Eat healthy . Little by little had the will to leave phentermine for once and for all. I listened to the signs around me and made the change before it was too late. Legal or not legal anything substance we depend on will destroy us. If ur someone like me that is going thru this. ..know that "it can get better " you have to make the choice. Pray.  Hope is there , your not alone.

[1toanother]

To anyone who has a phentermine addiction:

  I have battled with many substances since my earlly 20's mostly due to the loss of my son in a bad relationship!! My ex really used him as a pawn and poisoned him against me and you name it I used it as time went on. Only by the grace of my Heavenly Father am I still alive and functioning. I have been mostly d thenclean for atleast  eight years, The thing that has tripped me up and continues to plague me is this evil little pill!!!! Now I am really a believer and attribute my recovery to nothing more than straight up deliverance. Call me a Jesus freak, I don't care, but because I let myself get pretty fat when I quit partying and I guess just cross addicted with food. Anyway, I get the pill on an an average of about 3x a year and  then I take like 1-2 the first day and then it gets really bad after that 8-10 per day and my speech becomes impaired and my pupils are dilated and my husband gets absoultely irate....Which, I know is understandable. I can get scripts from doctors I know and where there's a will , there's a way.  Now this year I was good up until this past friday. took a couple of my girlfriend's vicodin and then went and got some phentermine Saturday.They were gone yesterday(30 pills in 6 days) and I got some more. I
havent hardly eaten and lost almost 10 pounds, which makes me ecstatic, but today my husband turned into a kumodo dragon and was yelling and calling me an f--ing druggy!!!Thank god my kids didn't hear him.I have noticed my speech impairment at work and will try not to talk as much n pray people don't notice. He's demanding I pitch them n I'm really struggling with that right now. I feel I have to wean myself and I absolutely dread the crash and the inevitable return of weight  and my ravenous appetite!!!So true about when the Lord sets someone free and they return to the bondage is like a dog returning to his vomit!!!! please pray for me and write if u can relate somehow...1toanother,,, i chose that because the bible says confess your sins one to another so you may be healed!!!!

[2256931littledebbie]

I have been taking phentermine for about a year.My weight is up and down and I take it for just energy.I'm afraid I am becoming dependant on these.I take 2 a day and I find myself wanting more sometimes.I am only prescrbed 1 a day but I get more.My start weight was 130 and I just wanted to drop a few lbs. It worked at first but I also followed the diet and exercised. Now I am back to where I started with my weight but that doesn't matter as much to me as this problem. I need help and I don't know where to go.

[cat9841]

I too, took phentermine, still have like a full bottle someplace in the house, I hid it and now I can't find it anywhere. and like you, I took it to wake up and something to sleep at night, then felt kind of dopy all morning, its a viscous cycle. anyhow, I started having heart palpations, and an abnormal t wave and that scared the **** out of me, so I stopped it, no w/d, but stay away if possiable because it does raise your blood pressure and heart problems occure sometimes.
CAT

[PharmGirl75]

You hit the nail on the head about why I'm asking the questions and have been lurking around--
It hit me one day that I was basically using the Phentermine to get going, and then Lunesta or Xanax to stop going. It seemed like a questionable cycle, and I thought I'd better give it a good hard look. After suffering from chronic fatigue, the phentermine seemed like a life saver, but since the chrontic fatigue was likely from a sleeping problem (per my doctor), it's probably doing me as much harm as good...

In case anyone wonders, I've brought up these concerns to my doctor several times- he's pretty old.. one of those been around the block.. seen it all.. sort of family doctors. He was pretty unconcerned about my use of either. He said that Xanax was probably just fine as long as I wasn't using it 3x day for a long period of time, etc. Regarding the Phentermine, he just says that as long as it's still working, and I'm still losing weight with each monthly checkup (and blood pressure remains low) then he's not concerned.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts- the voice of "been there, done that" is always better than "saw this, seen that".  :)

[sterling_silver]

I took Phentermine for 2 years in my youth.lol  They have not banned Phentermine, they banned Phen/Fen. They took the second part of the diet cocktail off the market because it was causing heart damage. I used to take it for energy, cuz I was a shallow work out freak. When I stopped taking it, the only withdrawal I had was zero energy. Because you are not taking speed anymore. You wont get sick. But it will take you time to get your real energy back. The big problem you have now is the xanax. As you said, you need to taper off the xanax. You are doing a smart thing by getting off this speed in the day, and downers to get to sleep. I strongly advise you to not take any phentermine while getting off the xanax. It will drive you crazy.

[PharmGirl75]

Thanks for the info about the half life- I was looking for that trying to see what it was, and my searching fingers failed me!

[confused456]

I sent you a pm about the Adipex (phentermine)

[cathy5841]

i have never used phentermine, but if it has a very long half life it will take sometimes 2 or so days to have w/d's.  i have taken xannex but i never was addicted to it.  sorry i guess i wasnt much help.  google both and see what u get

[worried878]

I have never known a phentermine addict but it is addictive...if you are staying hyped all day then having to come down at night to sleep...you may need to take a look at it...it was banned from online pharmacies and must have been for good reason...it is for short term use...and just be careful with xanax...it is not really intended as a sleeping pill and the lunesta would be much safer

[confused456]

I have taken it for a very long time. You can send me a personal message if you like....