Naiev
Newly
wed |
Phentermine - Could it be used by doctors
to 'come down' from meth?
OK - so I've been researching a diet pill,
phentermine (generic for Fastin). It talks about effects similar
to amphetamines.
One of the suggestions is that when you stop taking it, to
reduce dosage instead of just quitting because fatigue and
depression is a side effect of stopping altogether.
It's offered in 37.5mg, 30mg, and 15mg. I'm wondering if this
could be used to help 're-regulate' meth users who are trying to
get clean to help with the sudden onset of depression / fatigue?
Any thoughts? |
| Replies... |
| Penel0pe |
Re: Phentermine - Could it be used by Dr.'s to 'come down' from meth?
It's speed. It is one of the drugs that was
used in the weight loss "Miracle" of a few years ago, Fen - Phen.
They took the "Fen" part out of the equation because people were
having heart attacks and dying. A friend of mine had a Fen -
Phen heart attack (Ironically while at the hospital doing a
training for the staff!)
It's just more speed. Replacing one drug for another. |
imlost
inky |
Re: Phentermine - Could it be used by Dr.'s to 'come down' from meth?
It is just that- a diet pill.
You lose weight while you are on it but without changing your
lifestyle, as soon as you quit it, all the weight is back on and
then some.
My best friend took the phen part by itself.
I agree - just replacing one drug with another.
phentermine.drugs.com/
Quote:
Phentermine is habit forming. You can
become physically and psychologically dependent on this
medication, and withdrawal effects may occur if you stop
taking it suddenly after several weeks of continuous use.
Talk to your doctor about stopping this medication
gradually.
Quote:
Phentermine is a sympathomimetic
amine, which is similar to an amphetamine. It is also known
as an "anorectic" or "anorexigenic" drug. Phentermine
stimulates the central nervous system (nerves and brain),
which increases your heart rate and blood pressure and
decreases your appetite.
|
| Loraura |
Re: Phentermine - Could it be used by Dr.'s to 'come down' from meth?
I was addicted to phentermine for over a
year.
Wouldn't suggest it.
It's an SSRI when you get right down to it. Not going to help a
dopamine deficit much. It's just going to CAUSE a seratonin
problem.
The reason people wean off phentermine is because after you've
been on it a while, your body doesn't think you need as much
serotonin, so it doesn't make as much as it used to. So when you
stop taking it, you're low on serotonin.
After 3 months or so, I was no longer getting any benefit from
it as far as weight loss. But I was addicted to it for energy
and for some resemblance of appetite control. I tried many times
to get off phentermine on my own, and always ended up breaking
down and ordering more (online, since my doctor had long since
stopped refilling my prescriptions).
I'd get a week or two "clean" from it, and I'd trudged through
the crash (I'd sleep an entire weekend) and the fatigue (I could
barely make it through a day of work and would be drinking 6-8
cups of coffee to do that) and I'd gain 15 pounds in that 2
weeks, and return to them out of fear and desperation.
It took me getting involved in a 12 step program for me to break
free of them. I'm 23 days amphetamine free. THIS time I haven't
gained a single pound after quitting. The crash was still
unpleasant. The fatigue was hellish. But even just maintaining
my weight and being able to function at work and at home is a
MAJOR improvement.
I said all that to say this -- I do not think using Phentermine
as a way to wean off meth would be a beneficial endevor.
It's an upper. Plain and simple. |
Naiev
Newly
wed |
Re: Phentermine - Could it be used by Dr.'s to 'come down' from meth?
Quote:
Talk to your doctor about stopping
this medication gradually.
Right - this is why I'm curious if it can
be used just as an aid to bring an addict down more easily in a
rehab center. I don't really know how potent or whatever....but
to help with the severe depression.
BTW - I have opted NOT to go this route. |
Macy
stiller
01 |
Re: Phentermine - Could it be used by Dr.'s to 'come down' from meth?
I can vouch for Loraura. We talked a lot
about this and the effects it was having on her. Way to go
Loraura. |
| Penel0pe |
Re: Phentermine - Could it be used by Dr.'s to 'come down' from meth?
Quote:
I'm 23 days amphetamine free.
Lori - it took a lot of courage to post
that... and now we know why you understand - you ARE one of
us.
Your personal growth is very evident - you rock, girl! |
imlost
inky |
Re: Phentermine - Could it be used by Dr.'s to 'come down' from meth?
Now you really are one of us
Way to beat it Loraura - another reason to admire you.
You are awesome.
Love ya,T |
starry
eyed |
Re: Phentermine - Could it be used by Dr.'s to 'come down' from meth?
NN, no it would not be used in a
treatment facility to 'bring an addict down'. It would either
not bring them down, or it would have no effect at all. I
ordered some phentermine off the internet while I was addicted
to meth to try something different and it did nothing for me. I
also took several Adderal, which is a true amphetamine and it
did nothing. Hell, quite a bit of speed would often do nothing.
Doctors and treatment centers normally aren't in the practice of
giving more uppers to cure an addiction to uppers. More than
likely an addict would be given an antidepressant. When I was in
treatment I actually told the doctor my life would be much
better if I could just take a small amount of prescribed
amphetamines for the rest of my life. They didn't think I was
being cute and they most certainly didn't give me any. It would
be just one more thing I have to take everyday. I don't have
ADHD so there would be no legitimate reason for me to take that
drug.
I'm not really sure why you are asking this question, did I miss
something? You said 'I have chosen not to go that route', I
don't understand. |
Naiev
Newly
wed |
Re: Phentermine - Could it be used by Dr.'s to 'come down' from meth?
hmmm...ok, maybe I'm not
wording my question right.
I'm sure they did 'nothing for you' because they didn't get you
high. That's not what I'm talking about here.
I understand the fatigue and depression when quitting meth (all
too well).
I'm not talking about a dosage to keep them high...or a dosage
for the rest of their life. I was wondering about a low dosage
in the beginning to help with mainly the depression and mind
set.
I didn't know how those levels of mg's would compare to meth and
if it would even help.
When I said I've chosen not to go that route, I mean taking
phentermine as a diet suppliment...because of what I've read. |
broken
by
meth2 |
Re: Phentermine - Could it be used by Dr.'s to 'come down' from meth?
I have read all this
thread.....
I take phentermine as a diet pill....It gave me energy at first
but it really doesn't anymore. But it does help suppress my
appetite...I have lost over 30 pounds since I started taking it
4 or 5 months ago..
I don't think I have a problem with it. I could seriously stop
taking it right now today and not think twice about it. .(That's
if I wanted to continue to be fat all my life which I don't)
When I finish losing what I want to lose I will quite taking
it......
I have read all kinds of stuff about it too but I don't have any
of those problems....
So are you saying taking diet pills or in this case phentermine
is wrong? Is it wrong not want to continue being a lard ass?
It is in no way a total fix. Just an aid to help you start
changing your lifestyle to be healthier...You have to change
your diet and exercise as well, It isn't just taking a diet
pill.....
Again JMO.....
I seriously think addictive behavior is a trait some people have
and some people don't...
I don't have a problem with any substances BUT SHOPPING and
BINGO well that's a whole new ballgame.... |
mary
mary1 |
Re: Phentermine - Could it be used by Dr.'s to 'come down' from meth?
. . . and there are many,
many lawsuits involving phentermine. |
| Loraura |
Re: Phentermine - Could it be used by Dr.'s to 'come down' from meth?
FOR ME, phentermine was a
short term solution to a long term problem.
My problem wasn't that I was fat.
Being fat was a symptom of my REAL problems, because I had been
using food as a drug for many years.
Being fat was a side effect of using food as a drug.
Until I addressed WHY I was using food as a drug, and began to
address THOSE problems, I just kept chasing my tail.
Using amphetmaines was just one of the harmful things I tried to
use to control the physical side effects of using food as a
drug. It did nothing to address the real underlying problems. It
made them worse. |
| Loraura |
Re: Phentermine - Could it be used by Dr.'s to 'come down' from meth?
Brokenbymeth, if I could
make one suggestion to you, it would be to not take them longer
than the three months recommended by the FDA. Continuing to take
them after that time, in my opinion, drastically increases your
chances of becoming physically and psychologically dependant.
That was my second mistake. To take them longer than
recommended.
I took them for over a
year. I can't remember the exact date when I first started.
After 6 months, they ceased to have any effect on weight loss.
I could and did gain weight quite easily.
I felt the same way.
But FOR ME, phentermine was an empty promise.
While yes, I did lose weight on them in the beginning, the
positive effects wore off long before I was thin.
Considering I'm still not thin!
I don't know if you remember, but a while back I had been in the
emergency room. I think I posted about it here. I woke up one
morning with a blood pressure of 80/50.
In case you're wondering, that's REALLY low, and I was
incomprehensibly dizzy and weak.
That was one of my attempts to quit Phentermine. |
