withdrawing from phentermine use

[sallyann849]

I have been taking phentermine 37.5 mg 1 and 1/2 pills daily for the last 4 years. I am wanting to get off of these pills and am having a problem with the withdrawal effects. I have stopped cold turkey and have not taken a pill since last Monday. How long do you have to go thru the cotton filter feeling in your head and the "do not want to do anything" feeling?

[Blakester77]

Tough it out because that is nothing ! And there is no drug treatment for that you will be just fine in about 4 days. Stay off them after.

[MandiB66778]

I am on day 6 of stopping Phentermine cold turkey. I feel semi normal today except for extreme dizziness. I have been on and off Phentermine for 2 years. I've lost 75 pounds after a difficult pregnancy. For anyone to say there aren't withdrawal symptoms is ridiculous. I have been sleeping hours upon hours daily. It's awful and I feel awful even trying to take OTC caffeine pills. I hope I am on the downhill battle now because I cant deal with the tiredness. I have an amazing toddler to chase around. I will never go back on Phentermine again. This is the worst. I was on 1 and 1/2 pills daily.

[betstro]

Did you have bad headaches coming off of it? I think that's what I'm going through.

[Jenniferlynn46]

I have stopped phentermine for 1 montb now. I was on this pill for 4 years. I have become depressed and just want to lay in bed all day. Why is this? I have been depressed since stopping phentermine. Any advice to help?

[rawbar]

phentermine similar to ephedrine?!?!  not in the least bit!!  i've also been on phentermine on and off since 1996 or so.  the max dosage is not 37.5mg, that's just the maximum dosage made in a single pill.  i too am on 1/2 pill 3x/day (not capsules).  i have never had any symptoms at all when i stop taking it and there are no requirements to wean off of it.  in fact most doctors ive seen recommend you stop taking it for 1 week every 8-12 weeks.

ephedrine can be purchased over the counter in cold meds (I did an ECA stack for a long while before getting back on the phentermine a couple years back).  ephedrine is a precursor to methamphetamine, but is NOT the same!  phentermine is prescription only, acts as a seratonin uptake inhibitor which is an entirely different action on the brain.  it is not speed-like at all.

[sallyann849]

Your comments and advice really have helped!
To Carrie76- phentermine is  ther generic adipex used for weight loss. Yes it is similar to ephedrine.
Thanks for everyones advice and comments. I am feeling much better. Thanks again!

[itsjack1972]

I would take up to 5 capsules a day and when I knew I as running out I would start tapering them down and eventually would crash and sleep for days.  When I would need to be active I would use OTC Metabolife or energy drinks by the gallon just to feel somewhat normal for the next few days until my body adjusted!  Phentermine and Bontril and a HORRIBLE drug and have a much longer half life than when I would stop taking my Schedule II Ritalin!!!  My advice is to sleep as much as possible and than use supplements for a few days.  It does work!  Than stay the hell away from them!!!  I finally broke the habit almost 2 yrs ago.  It was killing me!  Let me know if you have any other questions and I know how you feel, so u are not alone.

[Carrie76]

I havent heard of phentermine? But My DOC was ephedrine, a type of speed that is also used for weightloss. Tommorrow I will be 30 days clean and it was very hard but it ca be done. Is this drug similar to ephedrine?

[lonote]

Hi Cindy! I've been taken it too for the last severl years when I'd go off i'd sleep for days. It was a little rougher  for me than you. So how are you doing Cindy?    love Cathy

[grievingwidow]

I have taken phentermine off and on (mostly on) for the last 15 years or so.  Believe me, there are NO physical withdrawal side effects to this drug - only psychological.  Hope that helps.

[notmenow!]

You have been trying to lose weight for 4 years now and you DR just kept giving them to you, You must not have been losing the weight to stay on them for 4 years 37.5 is he max dose is it not. How did you take a half a capsule. Would that not make you short for the month unless you were getting them off the Internet? I would not recommend going cold turkey, It would have made more sense to take a 37.5 Ionamin or phentermine and then meet with you DR as they come in lower doses, No wonder you have no energy you have been living on a false sense of well being and chemical energy and your body does not know what is going on see your DR and do a taper that will work for you. There is no reason to torture yourself like this. Not to mention the damage you may have done to your heart, Did your DR shut you off and will not help, Then find an addiction specialist that will. But please get some help------------------------NOAH

[lurker]

OK, starting to feel like I'm retarded - this is the 3rd time I've typed this reply!
Welcome - most of the people here have narcotic/pain pill addictions but hopefully someone is familiar with this drug.  What was it used for?  Was the above dose what your MD told you to take or more that you were supposed to take?  I'm going to look it up cuz I'm curious!