1245 Country Club Rd. Suite 200,
Santa Teresa, NM 88008
Phone: 575-332-4633
Fax: 818-337-1474
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Phentermine for Weight Loss
To assist patients in losing weight, San Jose Wellness Center regularly uses Phentermine in conjunction with strict dietary recommendations.
Woman exercising to lose weight

San Jose Wellness Center frequently employs Phentermine, combined with tight dietary guidelines, to help patients lose weight..

In addition to doing a physical examination, we will speak with you about several weight loss tactics—including medication—that can help you reach your objectives. A physical examination, lab work, and maybe an EKG are part of our program orientation to rule out any issues that would prevent you from being a good candidate for some weight loss drugs, like Phentermine.

Warnings and Contraindications of ​Phentermine

The following patients shouldn't use phentermine for weight loss:

  • Those who suffer from uncontrolled hypertension or heart disease
  • Individuals suffering from glaucoma
  • Women who are pregnant, nursing, or intending to become pregnant
  • Those with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) who are not under control
  • Individuals who have taken or are currently using a monoamide oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) during the last 14 days
  • Individuals that are easily agitated (very restless and irritable)
  • Individuals with a past of substance misuse

Patients who have the following conditions need to use extra caution:

  • Individuals with diabetes may require modifications to their insulin dosage when using phentermine.
Person in need of a weight loss regimen

Possible Side Effects of Phentermine

Despite the fact that phentermine typically has no adverse side effects, the following are possible:

  • Dry mouth
  • Anxiety
  • Trouble falling asleep
  • Heart rate increase
  • An elevation in blood pressure
  • Individuals that are easily agitated (very restless and irritable)
  • Individuals with a past of substance misuse

Less frequent adverse effects consist of:

  • Convulsions
  • Impotence
  • Depression
  • Panic attacks
  • High temperature
  • Hallucinations
  • Shaking and trembling
  • Fainting

Some infrequent yet dangerous adverse effects are:

  • Patients taking phentermine in combination with fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine have been documented to develop Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH), a rare and sometimes fatal lung condition. It is not impossible to rule out the possibility that phentermine use alone and PPH are related. If you develop syncope, lower extremity edema, dyspnea, or chest pain that seems to be developing suddenly, you should stop taking Phentermine right away.
  • Heart Valve Disease: Patients using phentermine along with fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine have been known to have serious heart valve issues or disease. It is impossible to completely rule out the potential that using phentermine alone may be linked to valvular heart disease.

These and more unidentified hazards could arise from phentermine therapy.

Simply put, using phentermine while pregnant or nursing is completely forbidden. You cannot attempt to get pregnant while using Phentermine, nor should you continue to try during this time.

The FDA has approved phentermine for use in weight loss treatments lasting no more than 12 weeks. But according to studies published as recently as 2019, using phentermine for longer than 12 weeks is generally safe and more successful at helping users lose weight and keep it off than discontinuing the medicine at that point1. Given the evidence that phentermine is effective for long-term use, your healthcare professional may suggest continuing beyond this treatment if you experience success with it after 12 weeks of treatment. But this is using the drug against its prescribed use.

Weight Loss Medication Options

Before starting any weight loss medication, there are some general considerations to keep in mind. 

  • These medications are approved for patients with a BMI greater than 30 kg/m2 or a BMI of 27-29.9 kg/m2 with weight-related comorbidities such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.
  • If you decide to use medication as part of your weight loss program, it is essential to combine it with healthy eating and physical activity. Using medications alone without making these lifestyle changes can lead to failure.
  • Most people respond better to a single-ingredient medication rather than a two-ingredient medication due to fewer side effects.
  • For those who have success with their weight loss program, a weight loss of at least 5% of their body weight can be expected within 3-12 months. However, if medication is used as part of the weight loss journey and then discontinued, weight gain may occur again. Therefore, long-term use of anti-obesity medications may be a reasonable consideration to help maintain weight loss of at least >5%.
  • If you do not lose more than 3% of your body weight in 12 weeks while on the maximum dose of a specific medication, it's likely that you will not respond to that medication.
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