- Use phentermine episodically on 2-3 days per week during fasting periods rather than daily to avoid metabolic damage and achieve sustained weight loss after stopping the medication.
- Standard daily phentermine use causes short-term weight loss that returns once you stop because continuous calorie restriction damages your metabolism, but episodic restriction does not.
- Expect 5-15 pounds of sustainable weight loss with episodic phentermine use, but view it as one tool in a comprehensive program including diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management.
- You're most likely to benefit from phentermine if you've never used it before, have no history of yo-yo dieting, have normal thyroid function, and are implementing lifestyle changes simultaneously.
Most people are not using phentermine, for weight loss, correctly.
Before you jump to conclusions, let me explain:
There is a “standard” way to use phentermine (the way that most Doctors use it) and a “better” way to use it (the way that I recommend you use it) and by simply changing how you use it, you can increase weight loss while reducing symptoms.
If you want to know how to use phentermine safely and correctly, while avoiding negative side effects and optimizing your weight loss, then this is the article for you.
What is Phentermine?
As a doctor, I’ve always been interested in weight loss.
To me, it seems like it’s probably one of the most important conditions that patients deal with and it’s insanely common.
Losing weight helps improve quality of life, energy levels, and self-confidence of almost everyone who achieves it.
So you can imagine how excited I was to use phentermine (a supposed weight loss medication) once I started my weight loss practice.
But I was incredibly bummed out once I saw the results!
I expected patients to shed excess pounds and come back happy and healthy.
What I found was quite the opposite:
Some patients lost a minor amount of weight (a few pounds here and there) but many suffered from side effects that made them stop taking the medication.
Worse yet, some patients experienced no weight loss at all.
So, what gives?
At first, this caused me to stop using phentermine, but then I realized that there may be a better way to use it.
What if we can take advantage of the weight loss associated with this medication while minimizing the negative side effects all while maintaining weight loss after patients stop using it?
Sound too good to be true?
I will explain how to do this, but first, you need to know some basics:
So what exactly is phentermine?
Phentermine (also known as Adipex, Fastin, Lomaira, and Pro-Fast) is one of MANY weight loss medications FDA-approved to treat obesity in the United States.
It works by stimulating your sympathetic nervous system and is classified as a “stimulant” (1).
Stimulants work to reduce your appetite and increase the number of calories that you burn at baseline (your metabolism).
Used in this way many studies show that it is effective.
But we have a problem:
Phentermine works fairly well (in up to 80% of patients in some studies) but it’s NOT a long-term solution.
Phentermine is supposed to work because it suppresses your appetite.
If you eat less food then you should lose weight, right?
Not so fast.
You may lose weight, but do you really care if you lose weight if it all comes back once you stop the medication?
That’s one of the biggest problems with using phentermine.
It may act to temporarily suppress your appetite, but whatever results you achieve while using this medication practically disappear once you stop it.
What this means is that phentermine is NOT a long-term solution for weight loss.
Or is it?
There are actually ways to increase the length of time you can use it while avoiding weight gain after you stop it (more on that later).
Does it Actually Help with Weight Loss?
From a technical standpoint, it is clear that phentermine does indeed work to reduce weight.
But when you look at real patient reviews you see something quite different:
Most people do admit that phentermine can help them lose weight (in the short term) but almost everyone puts back on the weight that they lose once they stop the medication.
This phenomenon is well known to researchers and it is the reason that phentermine is only approved for SHORT-term weight loss.
But what good is weight loss if it’s not sustained?
If you take the time and energy to lose weight it’s only natural that you want that weight to STAY off.
Even though it doesn’t show sustained weight loss in clinical studies, we can still use the fact that it “works” to our advantage.
We know that FDA-approved doses do indeed suppress the appetite and do indeed alter the sympathetic nervous system (thereby increasing how many calories you burn).
The question then becomes how can we use phentermine correctly to lose weight in the long term while avoiding negative side effects.
The answer to this question has to do with how this medication is used (including dosage and frequency).
Most People use Phentermine Incorrectly
I said previously that most people use phentermine incorrectly so we need to expand upon that idea.
The “standard” way to use this medication is something like this:
Take 1 pill each and every morning for 30-day intervals (the maximum amount of time you can prescribe the medication).
Each day you take it you will notice that your appetite is reduced so you consume less food.
Because of this reduction in caloric intake, you will lose some weight (maybe a few pounds a month).
Eventually, your Doctor will stop prescribing the medication and you will slowly regain whatever weight you lost over this 1-3 month period.
Most Doctors will NOT prescribe phentermine longer than a 3-month time period because it is well known that the benefits of phentermine start to decline after that time period.
So even if you lost some weight while using it initially, you will have diminishing returns on your weight loss over time.
That means if you lost 5 pounds the first month you’ll probably lose 2-3 pounds the next month and then another 1 pound the following month.
Taking it for another 3-6 months will NOT increase the amount you lose.
This is the “standard” way to use phentermine and it’s how most Doctors recommend that you use it.
But there are some tweaks that I’ve learned over the years to dramatically improve how effective it can be.
How to use Phentermine Correctly (The most effective method)
So how should you actually use phentermine for long-lasting and sustained weight loss?
In order to discuss how this is done you need to understand the importance of your metabolism (also known as metabolic rate) on your weight.
Your metabolism is a term used to describe the number of calories that you burn doing everyday activities such as breathing, sleeping, thinking, etc.
This amount of calories account for up to 90% of the total amount of calories that you burn each and every day (depending on which study you look at).
But we have a big problem.
It’s well known that CALORIC restriction is known to cause a REDUCTION in your metabolism and basal metabolic rate.
Let’s rephrase that statement to make sure it’s clear:
If you consume fewer calories than whatever your metabolism is set at, your body will adapt by LOWERING your metabolism to match your food intake.
You might be seeing the problem here.
Phentermine causes a reduction in your appetite which WILL lead to a reduction in the number of calories that you consume.
This caloric restriction will ultimately lead to a reduction in your metabolism AND the regaining of weight after you stop the medication.
So how do you PREVENT this from happening?
It turns out that you can bypass this negative impact on metabolic function by altering how you reduce your calories.
As far as your metabolism is concerned, there is a HUGE difference between SUSTAINED caloric restriction and EPISODIC caloric restriction.
Sustained calorie restriction = 1,000 – 1,200 calorie diet daily x30 days.
Episodic calorie restriction = 1-3 days per week of 500-1,000 calories.
Sustained calorie restriction is the “standard” advice that most weight loss experts give and the way that most diets function.
You temporarily reduce the number of calories that you consume for some time interval (usually 30-90 days).
You lose some weight during this time period but you always gain it back because you damage your metabolism in the process.
Episodic calorie restriction, on the other hand, does NOT result in damage to your metabolism (6).
Episodic calorie restriction also has the benefit of causing the same amount of weight loss associated with sustained calorie restriction.
It’s really a no-brainer in terms of which one to choose.
But where does phentermine fit in?
Phentermine can be used to help BOOST the effectiveness of the episodes of temporary caloric restriction by INCREASING your metabolism and by REDUCING your appetite.
This combination makes using phentermine MUCH more effective and much safer.
You end up using a smaller dose, using that dose less frequently while still reaping the weight loss benefits.
Even this small change can have a huge impact on your total weight, how well you tolerate the medication, and more.
The absolute best way to use phentermine is to combine phentermine with intermittent or prolonged fasting routines.
Using phentermine no more than 3 days every 7 days (at the absolute most!).
Many patients will be fine using it only 2x every 7 days.
The days that you use phentermine are the days that you practice either prolonged or intermittent fasting.
You can take phentermine on the morning of and on an empty stomach to help reduce your appetite for that day.
You can learn more about how exactly I use phentermine in my weight loss program here.
It’s a simple change, but one that has a huge impact on your weight.
Before you run out and get your doctor to give you phentermine make sure that you read the limitations of this medication and use this method.
Is Phentermine Safe? Side Effects to Watch out for
As much as I like phentermine we need to be fair about the potential side effects associated with this medication.
The term stimulant is used to describe the effects of medications on the sympathetic nervous system.
The sympathetic nervous system is your fight or flight response system and it manages your energy level, blood pressure, heart rate, alertness, and so on.
Medications that trigger this system often result in increased focus and attention (Adderall), suppressed appetite (phentermine), increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, and increased demand on your heart in general (8).
With this concept in mind, we can talk about the POTENTIAL side effects of phentermine, including:
- Heart palpitations
- Hypertension or increased blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Dry mouth
- Appetite suppression
- Anxiety
- Constipation or Diarrhea (depends on the person)
- Headaches
- Dizziness
Most of these side effects have to do with how sensitive you are to the dosing, meaning they are dose sensitive.
In most cases, simply reducing the amount that you take is usually enough to reduce the symptoms.
But a small minority of people, usually around 5-10%, will not be able to tolerate phentermine at any dose.
But, as you can see, phentermine is not necessarily a “safe” medication and it should only be used if necessary.
You have to think about whether the potential negative side effects are worth the loss in your weight and determine if that weight loss is worth the small risk.
In most cases, it is worth it, but if you have existing high blood pressure, heart problems, or insomnia then using phentermine may not be the best option for you.
When in doubt touch base with your Doctor.
Limitations of Phentermine & Who Should use it
Will using phentermine in the way I’ve described, result in pounds and pounds of weight loss for everyone?
Not necessarily, which is why we need to be realistic about your expectations.
If you are someone that is NAIVE to calorie-restricted diets or NAIVE to using phentermine then you are someone who will most likely have a lot of success with this method.
By naive I mean someone who has NOT used these methods before.
If, on the other hand, you are someone who has done the HCG diet multiple times or someone who has used phentermine for months and months on end, then this method will likely not work well for you.
So why does it work for some people but not others?
It takes years to reverse metabolic damage and metabolic damage is often associated with other hormone imbalances such as thyroid dysfunction and leptin resistance which will need to be treated.
If you fall into that category you can read more about how to fix it here.
But for those people who do not fall into this category phentermine will probably work very well for you.
To recap:
You are most likely to benefit from phentermine if you…
- Have never used phentermine before
- Do NOT have a history of yo-yo dieting
- Are younger (less than 50)
- Are ALSO eating healthy
- Are ALSO sleeping well at night
- Are ALSO avoiding/reducing stress
- Are ALSO exercising (but not over-exercising)
- Do NOT have thyroid disease, leptin resistance, or insulin resistance
If you don’t fit into the categories listed above it doesn’t mean that phentermine won’t work for you, but it does mean that it probably won’t be as effective as other therapies.
What Kind of Results Should I Expect if I use it?
It really depends on how you use phentermine.
As a stand-alone weight loss medication is just an “average” weight loss medication.
Don’t get me wrong, it can still help with weight loss, but it’s probably only going to help you lose 5-15 pounds long-term.
This is assuming that you use it as I’ve outlined above (with episodic intermittent and prolonged fasting).
But it’s most likely NOT going to get you to your “normal” weight, especially if you have 30+ pounds to lose.
Instead of using phentermine as a stand-alone medication, I tend to use it as an additional therapy to more powerful weight loss therapies.
I’ve written about them before, but you can find more information on powerful weight-loss medications here.
Phentermine is best used as part of a multi-faceted weight loss program which includes dietary changes, exercise routines, the right supplements, and other medications.
Phentermine can also be combined with hormonal therapy such as testosterone or T3 therapy to help boost weight loss over a short-term period.
Dosing Phentermine (Including Pricing)
Dosing phentermine is actually fairly straightforward.
The “standard” dose of phentermine is 37.5mg.
This is the highest dose you should take in any given day (do NOT exceed 1 tablet daily).
Higher doses will increase your blood pressure, and heart rate and may cause heart palpitations and so on.
Even at this dose of 37.5mg, some patients will find that they are “sensitive” to the dose and simply cannot tolerate it.
They may experience heart palpitations, anxiety, or even sleeping issues.
For those people who fit this category just remember that the tablets are scored down the middle.
This means you can cut the dose in half, down to 18.75mg, by breaking the tablet in half.
This USUALLY works for most people.
What about the cost?
I’m all for using low-cost medications, provided they work and provided they are NOT dangerous.
In terms of cost, phentermine is reasonably priced (even though it is not the “safest” medication out there).
The cash price for phentermine, provided you use a coupon service like goodrx, should only run you about $10 for 30 tablets:
If you use phentermine the way I’ve outlined above then that cost drops considerably.
Why?
Because you’re only using 2-3 tablets per WEEK.
The pharmacies won’t like it, but your wallet certainly should.
Bottom Line
I’ve spent a lot of time practicing different ways to help people lose weight and this is just one of many strategies that I’ve created over the years.
By simply altering how you look at your weight and what actually causes weight loss you can make changes that will dramatically impact your weight long-term.
Standard recommendations for using phentermine seem to be inadequate and may cause long-term metabolic damage.
Instead of using phentermine as recommended, consider using it in an episodic way.
This will allow for more sustained weight loss, and fewer side effects all while avoiding metabolic damage.
I’ve used this strategy many times in my career and it has worked well for many different patients.
Now I want to hear from you:
Are you using phentermine for weight loss?
Is it working for you? Why or why not?
Have you damaged your metabolism in the process?
Leave your comments below!
I’ve been taking Phentamine for over 3 months. I’ve been taking it since July and it’s now October. My doctor has been providing me the drug with consent that I haven’t been using it so much. I was start with half the pill and I barely was eating. I lost almost 20 pounds but definitely noticed a plateau in my results mid September. I began gaining weight 2-3 pounds and losing it.
Now I feel so scared to get off Phentamine (even though I’m at a plateau). I’m worried I’ll gain the weight again and I’m no where near my goal.
I wish my doctor told me a more effective way. He mentioned to take half early morning and the other half before 2:00 PM. But this was not effective later on.
My family is so happy for me, I don’t want to disappoint them by gaining any weight. I myself don’t want to gain any weight. I was just becoming confident in myself and now I’m hearing everyone say after getting off Phentamine they gained weight.
I have only been doing the calorie deficit thing, lately noticed Phentamine isn’t helping my appetite like it used to. I get hungry quicker. But I decided I will incorporate working out now, I purposely did this to see if Phentamine alone would help.
I just wish there was something that would stay long term effective. Like this article stated, no point in short term weight loss to be disappointed after getting off it.
My doctor just finally gave me the go-ahead and prescribed this for me today! 15mg capsules, once a day. I do have a history of HBP so she wants me in office next week for a BP check…smart! And, a follow-up appointment in a month. Along with keeping a food diary. I am 5’5″ and weighed in at 242lbs! Yuck!
I am going to do your recommended use of 3 days every 7 days this 1st week. Then, do 2x every 7 days. I will be excited to report how it works for me, as I’ve never used it. I have done intermittent fasting before.
Wish me luck! Here goes, I’ve already felt “less hungry” after one dose this late morning!
HI Michele, how did this method work for you? were you able to keep the weight off?
Good article. I have been on phentermine for 3.5 months (one pill daily), and I have plateaued for at least a month. I have eaten clean and low calorie with only a couple of cheat days in that time. I intermittent fast, skipping breakfast. I also exercise 6 days a week through this process (HIIT, weights, rowing machine, tennis, agility ladders, cycling, etc). I am down 32lbs. While I’m happy with the progress, I’m obviously frustrated that I’m not losing weight right now while working very hard. It doesn’t make sense that I am eating 1200-1600 calories a day and theoretically burning 2500-3000 calories (counting my exercise) and not losing 2lbs a week.
I would like to lose another 10-20 lbs, so I will try cutting down to 2-3 pills a week and follow the instructions in your video. FYI, I am 6’0″, 220lbs, with a good base of muscle.
Any other advice?
I do kickboxing. Is it best to work out on fasting/phen days or the opposite? Thanks!
Hello, for most of my adult life my weight fluctuated between 110-115 lbs (I am 5’4) as I rolled into my mid 30’s I freaked out hitting 125 and ordered a 30 day supply of Phentermine from an online pharmacy. I lost 2 lbs per day until I was a bit too thin at 108. The weight stayed off for quite some time (I’ve always been a fairly healthy eater, pretty active and energetic) but then returned with a VENGEANCE. At over 130 lbs – weight I had never experienced nor anyone in my genetically thin family – I ordered again. I did not see the rapid results as before and was only able to achieve a plateau of 120. I tried once more a few months later with no change. As a result, I believe, I have struggled with my weight ever since. NOTHING works…. even restricting myself from alcohol completely, eating paleo, vegan, keto or just no processed foods in addition to a rigorous fitness program… at BEST I’ve been able to maintain about 140. I now take Vyvanse, have no energy for much activity- though I try to force myself- and am 160 lbs. I RUINED my body trying the easy route over a few vanity lbs. What can I do to fix this???
Hi Micalle- have you ever tried metformin? I have a bit of a similar story to yours. I am type 1 diabetic and have been steady 130 for three years at 5’4. I always ate healthy and exercised, and the only thing that ever helped me lose weight was metformin. I wanted to be thinner, so I got a prescription of phentermine and went from 129 to 115 within three months of 15 mg , 3-4x a week. I took a two month break from the drug and continued to lose. I am steady at 118-115 now. I still take a small amount twice a week because I like the energy effects, and I have a theory that the metformin will protect my hormones, because it is a hormone balancer. I really hope I do not mess up my body though. I am 30 and took the phentermine when I was 29, still take about 24mg a week though. I am looking for in-depth advice about this, since most of my doctors just say “don’t take it” without much more advice.
I have been taking phentermine for about 5 months now, however I started only taking half a pill and just recently after the 4th month started taking the whole pill. I have lost about 31 pounds so far. This was with minimal exercise and calorie counting. I just received my third refill and have been thinking about trying a fasting-diet approach. I like the idea of only taking the pill 2-3 times a week as I’d like to see how much self control I have on the days I don’t take take the pill. I’m well aware that the pill is short term and I definitely do not want to go back to my bad eating habits and gain everything back. My question is: when taking the medication 2-3 times a week, are the 3 days consecutive or spread out throughout the week? Does it depend on which fasting approach I’m doing? My ultimate goal is to loose 100 pounds so I have about 70 to go. My weight stalled at one point then I added more exercise which helped a lot. The idea is that hopefully I’ve been able to change my eating and exercise habits that I will keep once I’m off the pill. I started off weighing 256 pounds and am now about 224.
Is it safe to use phentermine when you are on T3 only meds for thyroid? I’m wondering about heart issues. My doctor will prescribe it, but I want to be safe. My. Labs are great. And I feel 100% better, minus the 20lbs(or more) that I need to lose. Thanks so much!
Hi Meg,
Yes, they can definitely be used together provided you are not taking too much of one or the other. It’s all about the dosing.
I started using it about 2 months go and I started out half a dose in the morning and the other half around noon. I had trouble sleeping so I started taking the whole dose 1st thing in the morning. I lost 16 lbs. I’ve slowly been gaining it back and have only lost 11 now from gaining 5 lbs back. My biggest problem is doing well the entire day and then I can’t sleep at night because of my toddler and baby and so I will binge eat while I’m awake. I constantly crave sweets and I can’t help it! I’m also taking generic Prozac under a doctor’s care as well…they prescribed both medications to me. I don’t know how to stop my cravings and binge eating. I’m also thirsty a lot in the evenings. Please advise!
Would you also be able to use qsymia the same way – 2-3x a week and rotate calories as noted in the article to avoid metabolism crash?
Hi Andrea,
I suppose you could but I have personally never used it in that way so I’m not sure how effective it would be.
I started taking phendimetrazine last month, I only lost 6 pounds, I did all that’s supposed to be done, I am 46 years old, going thru menopause, no thyroid, taking depo shots, taking Levothyroxine, atorvastatin and escilatropram, I knew that my hormones would play a big part in loosing weight but I did cut off sodas, breads and sugars, please help me, I’m on my secon month and I want to loose more weight, I’m being realistic and I know I can’t loose the same as 25 years ago
Hi Nancy,
This blog has a lot of resources that can help! I would also check out this program for additional help with weight loss: https://www.restartmed.com/hormone-mastery/
I’ve struggled with being obese my entire life. I’m 30. I’m constantly yoyo dieting. I’ve tried every diet. I’ve tried binge working out. It’s so hard to sustain anything. I can’t stop eating. I have insatiable cravings at times. Even when I eat healthy by the end of the day I NEED something bad. Who do I speak to about getting this medicine? I don’t have a current doctor.
Hi Jonnelleoh,
In your case, you would want to look at the medications found here: https://www.restartmed.com/leptin-resistance-medications/
Dr. Childs, thank you for your informative article. Do you have any thoughts on low-dose phentermine for anxiety/depression? I was prescribed for weight loss but was surprised to find it reduced my anxiety, chronic depression, ruminating thoughts, etc. It also got me out of bed which I was struggling to do every day. Everybody has noticed a positive change in me from my boss to husband to other family members. I am now taking 1/4 of 37.5 mg tablet every other day and would like to continue. I feel like a normal person for the first time in my life. This medication was such an unexpected life changer, I dread the thought of going back to my depressed barely functional, almost bed-ridden self.
Hi Anya,
I’m not really familiar with using phentermine for anxiety/depression so I can’t really comment on that.
Hi Dr. Childs,
A friend of mine sent me an article you wrote about metabolic damage after phentermine. I am 46 years old, and I took Phentermine for years. The doctor that prescribed it had no problem with letting me taking it everyday. My weight loss was significant, but I had many of the symptoms. Dry mouth, sleeplessness, anxiety, elevated heart rate. I stopped taking it due to the sleeplessness. I gained 30 + pounds. I was honestly going to start taking it again until I read that article. I need to lose the weight I’ve gained, and I was going to restrict my calories. I’m worried I have significant metabolic damage, and I was hoping you could give me some advice on how to lose weight and get healthy after taking it for so long.
Hi Heather,
I would recommend checking out this article 🙂 https://www.restartmed.com/the-reverse-diet/
Hello Dr. Childs,
How many calories should I eat the days I do not fast/take Phentermine? Should I eat maintenance calories or a certain amount above the restricted days?
I am so glad I found your article. I’ve had success at intermittent fasting and took my first dose of phentermine today. I fast 3 days a week and thought about trying to only take a dose on my fasting days but wasn’t sure if that would still work. I’m going to give this a try. Thank you.
Hi Leah,
Happy to help!
What about the risk of putting the sympathetic neurological system in overdrive?
I have never used the aforementione drug but do suffer from Sympathetic Dominance, the symptoms first showing up during perimanopuase and more acutely during and after menopause.
Sympathetic dominance causes weight gain by both elevating cortisol and adrenal hormones putting yourbody in chronic state of stress reaction. Additionaly the sympathetic system also activates the RAAS (renin -angeitension system) which in turns elevated aldosterone levls and causes water retention. The sympathetic system can also cause sex hormone imbalances -for example I have estrogen dominance – my estradiol is at top of range for a much younger woman-never mind a menipausal one. My testosterone is low and my porgesterone is normal for menopause (bottom of rangee).
Since sympathetic neural activity is shown to dramatically increase during menopause and continue to increas with aging – what would you suggest for treating weight loss – or preventing it – for a woman with sympathetic dominace -especially during menopause?
Thank you for such a well rounded and indepth approach to treating metabolic disorders.
Hi Mary,
You’d want to focus on therapies that improve parasympathetic activity. That could be things like physical manipulation of the gut and vagus nerve, meditation, mindfulness, getting more sleep, changing the time of day that you eat carbohydrates, low-intensity activities such as walking, taking adrenal supplements, etc. There are lots of therapies that can help balance your sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
Article is to long. If you really have a way if getting anything done better and you are trying to share it or sale it. Just get to the point. If I’m looking for a lecture I would take a class.
Hi George,
Appreciate the feedback! I actually love to lecture and teach which is why this reads the way that it does 🙂
I have tried Phentermine and B12 shots twice and have loss weight only to gain it back and usually more then I loss. Is there another diet supplement that can try to help me loss weight and keep it off? I’m male and have just turned 59 and my blood test numbers are good but I know these issue will sneak up on you if you are overweight or obese. Any suggestion would be apricated.
This article is exactly how i envisioned using it, i’ve been doing intermittent fasting 18:6, i’d like to do Alternate day fasting and was thinking to take 1/2 a pill on my fasting day.
Hi Rasheedah,
It sounds like you are on the right track!
I have phen caps 15 mg and topamax 100mg tab which i haven’t taken yet. Last month i was on qsymia 11mg. So instead of upping it to 15 the doc prescribed separately. The QUESTION: should i take the phen only 2-3 times a week as you mention in your article and if so should i use the topamax with it or just leave that part out. I was only a little successful with the qsymia- i was expecting much better results. I’m leaning toward quitting all of this. I’m 5’4 and 145 pounds. Down 10 (but only 5 was from qsymia and exercise and calorie restricting ) please advise. Thanks
Is it better to do 2 consecutive fasting days per week with phentermine or spread the two days out with non-fasting days between?
Oops sorry! I meant to start a new subject
I took Phen and Toprimate for just under a month. Worked great and then I felt like I was constantly starving so I stopped taking the meds. From reading your article, I’m seeing that I was taking it wrong and I plan to start using it again for two days a week. Thank you for sharing this information.
Hi Kathy,
Happy to help!
Is it better to do 2 consecutive fasting days per week with phentermine or spread the two days out with non-fasting days between?
Hi Corrie,
It’s generally better to put the fasting days together but you can also spread them out and see if that works for you as well.
It didn’t work then later, it did!
All my adult life I was always slim and toned. In my late 40’s I started gaining slowly and it ruined my figure.
I had tried phentermine in 2020, it took my appetite away but lost no weight. I then went from DIET TO DIET, bought books on Weightloss, saw many YouTubes…nothing. I’m 5’3” but my weight kept climbing to my heaviest ever, 143. This gave me a big gut and butt and flabby arms. Just last month, March 2023, I got phentermine again BUT THIS TIME, I COUNT MY CALORIES with the Lose It app. Now the weight is coming off! I’ve already lost 10 pounds. This is phenomenal!!! I will consider all Dr Westin said too. I do get dry mouth so have to carry water around. Wish me luck because I have 25 more pounds to go.
Thank you Dr. Child for always sharing helpful insight. After optimizing my thyroid meds and sex hormones, my Endo started me on Phen to assist with weight loss. She also gave me a metabolic test (breathing through a tube for 15 minutes) that has given me optimal calories to eat every day. I shared your article and they supported me using episodic dosing. Fingers crossed that it works! I’ve gradually gained 15-20 pounds over the past 10 years (5’4” and weighing 150). Now in menopause but recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism and put on meds. I am also exercising 200-300 minutes a week and drinking lots of water. Maybe now the stars will align and my body will release the weight. My question to you: when stopping the Phen, is there anything specific you should do to keep the weight off (other than keep calories within your range for your metabolism)?
Dr. Childs, does everything you teach about apply to someone who’s had gastric sleeve surgery? After 3 years I’ve already gained half the weight back; I’m 100% sure my metabolism is wrecked. I’m about to start Phentermine again which my surgeon recommended. I want to take Phentermine only for about 2 months, after that you think it’s safe to start on your Bundle Supplements’ for long term metabolic repair and weight management?? (I’m a 33 year old mom 5’2 current weight 211 LBS)
Hi Carime,
Yes, the same general information applies. Gastric bypass forces a fasted state which does typically does cause some metabolic damage. That metabolic damage will need to be repaired over a long period of time (several years, most likely).
Hi,
I have taken Phentermine in the past and was very successful. I had taken both times for a total of 2 weeks and lost at least 6-8 pounds each time. I don’t fit the normal candidate but have used it for a boost to my regular weight loss routine over the years. I am healthy and eat healthy but I am 5’1 1/4 and every pound shows up on me. I am also over 40.i have always taken the 37.5 mg capsule.
This particular time I needed to lose almost 20 pounds. I have lost 14lbs been on since October 23rd and today is March 14th. The only side effects I experienced were dry mouth and obviously being a little more energetic and not being able to sleep as well. As I lost weight I noticed my tongue was bothering me so much, I had several sores on my tongue and one that needed a biopsy which turned out to be mild epithelial dysplasia and I’ve never smoked and am a social drinker so they believe it was due to the medicine being in a higher dose so when I did lower the dose, it actually helped my tongue quite a bit but I notice severe exhaustion coming off the 37.5 dose and cutting it in half to the 15mg. I also noticed i was hungrier than usual on the 15mg. I’ve only been taking that dose about a week but my question is, i read a lot on people increasing the dose but not seeing anything on reducing the dosage. I feel like I’m going up rather than down on the scale but I’m unsure. Any thoughts or guidance on this? Granted I’m almost at goal weight so I don’t know why that may be happening. Appreciate any help!
Hi Dr. Childs,
I just came across your article and I am not sure if you are monitoring the comments anymore (I hope so as I would like to know your thoughts). I was just prescribed Phentermine and have since been doing a lot of reading about it.
In your proposed scenario, say a person is doing prolonged 36 hour fasts twice a week…..what happens when you are done with the prescription and hopefully you lost weight without metabolic damage? How do you maintain the weight loss? Would you recommend someone continue a fasting regime? Or would that not be needed if eating enough calories to just maintain weight and not lose? Hope that question make sense. Thanks!
Hi Anne, did you start your phentermine the way the Dr advised? How did that work out? I am about to start today and found the method so helpful , so will be starting with his recommended method.