Phentermine: Part of a Healthy Weight Loss Program
At our Milwaukee clinic, clients participating in a medical weight loss program are sometimes prescribed phentermine as a short term solution along with a healthy diet and exercise program. Phentermine is also known by its brand names, Adipex-P®, Suprenza®, Lonamin® or Lomaira®. The drug was approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in 1959 for short-term use in weight loss. (Lomaira is the newest brand of phentermine. It is a low dose prescription and can be taken up to three times per day without the side effects on sleep.)
Phentermine is an appetite suppressant that helps you lose weight by making you feel full over a longer period of time. Medical professionals believe it works by decreasing your appetite, while increasing the amount of energy used by your body. Phentermine is an amphetamine-like prescription medication. It belongs to a class of drugs called sympathomimetic amines.
Phentermine is one of the more commonly prescribed weight loss medications.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “[Phentermine], like other prescription weight-loss drugs, phentermine is intended to be used as part of an overall weight-loss plan. It is indicated for people who are obese, and who have failed to lose enough weight with diet and exercise alone — not for people who want to lose just a few pounds.”
Many of our clients who are prescribed phentermine as a part of their weight loss program achieve success. (Patients who usually have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more.) However, it isn’t a good option for individuals who have heart disease, high blood pressure, overactive thyroid gland or glaucoma. It is also not for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
One of the advantages of phentermine is that it is available in a variety of doses from low dose (Lomaira) to maximum dose of 37.5mg daily. It is customizable depending on an individual’s goals and health conditions.
VIVA Wellness Clinic in Milwaukee works very closely with our clients who are using phentermine as part of their personal weight loss efforts. Though the medication is prescribed and only taken for a short time, it is only part of the overall healthy lifestyle program we customize for each of our clients.
Healthy Weight Loss & Phentermine
We believe in healthy lifestyles and healthy weight loss. We work with our clients to achieve their personal health and weight loss goals. That means when we do prescribe phentermine as part of our clients’ weight loss programs it is combined with more comprehensive lifestyle changes.
For instance, a personalized weight loss program might also include a nutrient-dense, reduced calorie diet, an increase in exercise and physical activity and other behavioral adjustments. Our nurse practitioner, Jennifer Hruz, FNP-BC, APNP, works closely with all our clients to help keep them on track throughout their medical weight loss journey.
If you would like to begin your own personalized medical weight loss program, contact us at VIVA Wellness today to schedule a consultation.