Can I Take Medications With Phentermine?

Here at phentermine.com, we get a lot of questions about whether it’s safe to take medications with phentermine, which can include prescribed medications, supplements, and over-the-counter remedies for everyday problems such as headaches and indigestion.

Here we explain all that you need to know about taking medications with phentermine.

Phentermine Combinations

In some cases, doctors will purposely prescribe medications with phentermine – these are known as phentermine combinations.

The intention is that this combination of phentermine and another prescription medication maximizes the potential of the phentermine and increases the possibility of effective weight loss.

One such combination is Phen-Pro, the name of the combination of phentermine and a low dose of an anti-depressant, such as Prozac or Zoloft.

The anti-depressant ingredient in Phen-Pro is not for the treatment of depression but rather is intended to help the phentermine work more effectively at promoting weight loss.

Another commonly prescribed phentermine combination is Qsymia, a combination of phentermine and topiramate, an anti-convulsant drug that can cause weight loss as a side effect.

Qsymia is the brand name for this combination.

Still, some doctors prefer to write two separate prescriptions for phentermine and topiramate, possibly to save their patients money so that their phentermine prescription is cheaper to fill.

Phentermine can also be prescribed in other drug combinations, including with other weight loss drugs such as Belviq (known as Bel-Phen), anti-diabetic drugs like Glucophage XR, with other anti-convulsants such as Zonegran, or with Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor (NDRIs) such as Wellbutrin SR.

These combinations may be prescribed in certain cases to help treat other conditions such as sleep apnea, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.

In contrast, other combinations are intended to work together to increase the effectiveness of phentermine.

If you have been prescribed phentermine in combination with any other drug, it is important that your doctor explains to you why he or she has chosen this combination for you, what each medication does, how the two work together, and what possible interactions may arise as a result of the combination for you to know what to expect, both in terms of results and of possible side effects.

Finally, it must be stressed that these combinations are only safe if specifically prescribed by a doctor.

Even if you have individual prescriptions for both medications, without being prescribed a certain combination by a doctor who is aware of all of your medical conditions and current medications, harmful drug interactions may result from self-medicating phentermine combinations.

Taking Prescribed Medications With Phentermine

While taking phentermine, there is always the possibility that you may need to take other prescription medications at the same time for any number of health issues.

These prescription medications fall into one of four categories: medications for existing and new conditions, short-term prescriptions, and birth control.

Medications For Existing Conditions

These types of medications would be those which you may have been taking long or short-term but which you are taking at the time of being assessed for your suitability to take phentermine.

You must explain to your phentermine doctor that you are taking these medications and for how long you have been told to take them, especially if he or she is not your usual doctor or specialist.

You should only be prescribed phentermine if it is deemed safe for you to take it alongside the other medication(s) you are taking, and even then, you should be informed of any possibilities of interactions between medications and how to recognize the symptoms of these.

If you are being prescribed phentermine by a different doctor, it is also a good idea to tell any other prescribing doctors you may have that you are now taking phentermine – that way, your records with all the doctors you have contact with will be up to date so that if any problems should arise, they will all be in a better position to help you.

Medications For New Conditions

While you are taking phentermine, you may need to start taking medications for serious or long-term health problems that were not previously diagnosed.

Suppose the doctor who is prescribing this new medication is a different doctor. In that case, you must inform him or her that you are taking phentermine, as it is also crucial that you explain to your phentermine doctor about this new medication.

It may be necessary for you to stop taking phentermine if there is a possibility that the two medications may cause a dangerous interaction.

Alternatively, your phentermine prescription might be changed to a different dosage, or you may be advised to take a different weight-loss medication.

Short-Term Prescriptions

Perhaps more likely than being prescribed new medications for more serious health problems is the need to take a short course of antibiotics or other short-term prescriptions while taking phentermine.

Most online sources state that phentermine does not interact with most antibiotics, but various allergy and breathing medications can cause interactions and unwanted side effects, so with this in mind, it is always crucial that you explain to your doctor that you are taking phentermine when you have prescribed any other medication, no matter how short-term it is.

In addition, it might be advisable for you to take a break from phentermine while you are taking this medication for several reasons – to avoid unwanted side effects, to ensure that your medication works effectively, and so that the effects of phentermine are not compromised.

Birth Control Pills

If you can become pregnant, it is important to use some form of birth control when taking phentermine, as it cannot be taken by pregnant women or trying to become pregnant.

Birth control pills have not been found to cause interactions with phentermine.

However, you should still ensure to inform your phentermine doctor about the contraceptive pill you are taking, as there may be a need to change your pill to balance your hormones.

Taking Supplements And Non-Prescription Medications With Phentermine

While taking phentermine, in addition to prescribed medications, you may need to take over-the-counter (OTC) medications from time to time.

Additionally, many people choose to take additional supplements to boost health, help with the side effects of phentermine or enhance the effectiveness of phentermine.

Non-Prescription Medications

We all take the occasional pill to help with everyday ailments such as headaches or indigestion.

Still, when taking phentermine, you may be more prone to headaches, nausea, dizziness, and constipation as some of the common phentermine side effects.

Medical studies have found that drugs like aspirin will cause your urinary pH to become more acidic (meaning phentermine is excreted faster), so it is best to limit the amount of aspirin and other OTC medications you take while you are taking phentermine otherwise, you will compromise the effectiveness of phentermine.

When you are prescribed phentermine, it is a good idea to ask the doctor if he or she would recommend any specific medications for conditions like indigestion, headaches, or other pains that you may be prone to, as some may be more suitable than others when taken with phentermine.

Supplements

Supplements such as 5-HTP or vitamin B12 injections are often prescribed alongside phentermine to maximize the effects of appetite suppression and energy-boosting.

You may also prefer to take supplements, such as multivitamins, to reduce other phentermine side effects, such as low mood, lack of energy, and insomnia, as opposed to taking additional medications such as sleeping pills or anti-depressants.

If you feel that phentermine has stopped working or that it is not as effective as you had hoped, then you may wish to add a supplement such as PhenQ.

PhenQ works like phentermine by suppressing appetite and boosting energy.

Still, as PhenQ contains different active ingredients, they are metabolized by the body differently and, therefore, help boost the effectiveness of phentermine through different mechanisms.

As with combining any medications, taking medications with phentermine is something that should only be done if a doctor has approved it.

Even if you have been told that it is fine to take a medication with phentermine, you should still remember to be extra vigilant about the possibility of additional side effects that may occur as a result of an interaction between the two medications, whether they have been prescribed for you or are non-prescription medications.

Are you currently taking any supplements or medications with phentermine? If so, we would love to hear from you, so please comment below!