Phentermine is a godsend for many people struggling with their weight. But unfortunately, it can be addictive, and when combined with alcohol, it can result in potentially life-threatening side effects. Worse yet, mixing Phentermine and alcohol makes withdrawals intense and severe. Fortunately, there are solutions for people who wish to beat their Phentermine addiction or prevent the symptoms that come with Phentermine withdrawal.
Phentermine Withdrawal
Phentermine withdrawal is defined as a set of symptoms that the body experiences after reducing chronic use of Phentermine. As a person becomes physically dependent on Phentermine, the body gradually adapts to the presence of Phentermine in his system. But when he stops taking Phentermine all of a sudden after becoming addicted, the body will become violently ill. As it tries to adapt to the sudden absence of Phentermine, it produces a range of Phentermine withdrawal symptoms. The severity of these symptoms varies from one person to another, depending on the span of Phentermine use. Some symptoms can be dangerous and life-threatening especially for those who use Phentermine with alcohol.
The withdrawal symptoms can start as soon as 6-8 hours after the last Phentermine dose. But, some people reportedly experienced the first signs of Phentermine physical withdrawal within 36 hours. Their symptoms have reached their peak 7 days after Phentermine cessation. After the symptoms have completely tapered off, their cravings for Phentermine lingered on. For full recovery from Phentermine addiction, these people had to seek proper support in place.
One study focused primarily on evaluating the addiction potential of long-term use of Phentermine and the effects of abrupt cessation. For this purpose, scientists examined 35 patients who previously used Phentermine in their weight management program but decided to stop taking it abruptly. During the examination, scientists found that the abrupt cessation of use doesn’t induce cravings for Phentermine in patients. The symptoms experienced by the subjects were a result of therapeutic effect and not withdrawal.
While the study mentioned above shows that abrupt cessation of Phentermine use doesn’t bring about withdrawal symptoms, users’ experiences say otherwise. Many people who have been using prescribed Phentermine reported withdrawal symptoms after they stopped taking it on their own initiative. Their symptoms include lightheadedness, lack of energy, bad mood, weight gain, sleep deprivation, and Phentermine cravings.
Symptoms of Phentermine Withdrawal
- Lightheadedness. The most common symptom that people experience is lightheadedness. They complained about experiencing the symptom for three days after they stopped taking Phentermine. The occurrence of this symptom could be due to the sudden change in levels of neurotransmitters, but a change in blood pressure may also play a role. Without the stimulating effects of Phentermine, a person’s blood pressure can drop suddenly and cause lightheadedness.
- Lack of energy. Users also reported a lack of energy after abruptly stopping Phentermine use. Since Phentermine acts as a stimulant to the central nervous system, it increases blood pressure and boosts energy levels. When a person suddenly stops taking Phentermine, the stimulating effect goes away. Without the stimulating effects, there is no rise in energy. For this reason, a person may experience the opposite effects, such as lack of energy or fatigue.
- Bad Mood. Phentermine acts as a stimulant so that it can curb appetite and help a person lose weight. As a stimulant, it directly influences neurotransmitters like dopamine, which is responsible for a person’s mood and pleasant emotions. After cessation of Phentermine use, the brain needs some time to adapt to the new situation. A person may experience mood changes as the brain tries to adjust. Most users of Phentermine reported feeling sad, depressed, and unmotivated after they stopped taking the pill.
- Weight Gain. This symptom may sound ironic, but it happened to most Phentermine users. Weight gain after cessation of Phentermine use can occur due to several reasons. One is due to the other symptoms of Phentermine withdrawal. For example, the lack of energy makes one reluctant to exercise regularly. When a lack of physical activity is combined with higher food consumption, a person is most likely to gain weight.
- Sleep Deprivation. Sleep deprivation occurs as a result of impaired levels of neurotransmitters. Other times, it occurs as a result of other Phentermine withdrawal symptoms. For example, bad mood or depression may cause a person difficulty sleeping at night.
- Phentermine Cravings. This symptom is quite common to Phentermine users. After stopping Phentermine use, they experienced a stimulating mechanism of action. This makes them seek and crave the effect of Phentermine. Other withdrawal symptoms such as low energy levels also make a person crave Phentermine due to its energy-boosting properties.
Additional Phentermine withdrawal symptoms that men and women also experience are diarrhea, headache, irritability, menstrual irregularities, nausea, concentration problems, anxiety, muscle aches and pains, increased appetite, and stomach pain.
Mixing Phentermine and Alcohol
As mentioned, the effects of mixing Phentermine and alcohol are likely to be severe than just using Phentermine alone. These include seizures, chest pains, high blood pressure, glaucoma, nerve damage, and hallucinations. Doctors usually advise their patients not to use Phentermine in combination with alcohol. This is because both substances increase the risk of addiction developing. Phentermine and alcohol have the potential to be addictive on their own, and if used together, can result in problematic abuse and dependence.
Aside from that, the two substances have two competing effects on the brain and body. While Phentermine is a central nervous system stimulant, alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. When combined and taken together, the weight loss effort may not be as effective and safe as it would have been otherwise.
There are many ways in which alcohol can compromise the effectiveness of Phentermine on weight loss. Most alcoholic beverages contain empty calories and large amounts of sugar. Alcohol tends to make people tired, making them less physically active. It also affects the liver, making it difficult for the body to burn fat.
More than anything, the combination of alcohol puts one person in a situation where he needs to overcome two forms of withdrawal symptoms – one from Phentermine and another from the alcohol. Alcohol is said to produce the most dangerous physical withdrawal. Hence, a person shouldn’t use Phentermine and alcohol altogether to crash out the risks and prevent severe complications.
Tips to Prevent Symptoms of Phentermine Withdrawal
Phentermine withdrawal can be scary and painful. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent all the symptoms entirely so that a person can experience a safer and more comfortable recovery. These are:
Using Phentermine for short-term only. As a prescription diet pill, Phentermine is intended for short-term use. For people who are obese, or have a weight-related medical condition, Phentermine is effective to take for 3 months. The span of Phentermine use, however, varies from one person to another, depending on the doctor’s prescription. Most people continue to take Phentermine beyond the end date. To avoid withdrawal symptoms, Phentermine must be taken according to how long the doctor prescribed one to take it.
Sticking to the recommended Phentermine dose. Another common mistake in Phentermine users is going beyond the recommended Phentermine dose. This is in hopes of speeding the weight loss process. Phentermine should be taken according to the recommended dose for the benefit of the taker. Otherwise, increased risks of withdrawal symptoms and life-threatening side effects may occur.
Looking at Phentermine differently. This is something that every Phentermine taker should bear in mind. To lower the chances of withdrawal symptoms, people should change their perception of Phentermine. Instead of considering it as a cure for their weight-loss related problems, they should look at Phentermine as a complementary tool that only aids in weight loss.
Exercising and Eating Healthy Foods. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is key to lowering the chances of experiencing the stimulating effect of Phentermine and other Phentermine withdrawal symptoms. To start with, Phentermine isn’t a magical solution to weight loss. Instead, it’s only a ‘help‘ to kick-start the weight loss process. This means that it should be taken along with a regular exercise and a healthy diet.