Adipex-P--types of drugs

What is Adipex-P?

Adipex-P (phentermine) is a stimulant that is similar to an amphetamine. Adipex-P is an appetite suppressant that affects the central nervous system.

Adipex-P is used togther with diet and exercise to treat obesity (overweight) in people with risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.

Adipex-P may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Adipex-P

Taking Adipex-P together with other diet medications such as fenfluramine (Phen-Fen) or dexfenfluramine (Redux) can cause a rare fatal lung disorder called pulmonary hypertension. Do not take Adipex-P with any other diet medications without your doctor's advice.

Adipex-P may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of this medicine.

Adipex-P is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

Adipex-P may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Never share Adipex-P with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Adipex-P is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription. Do not stop using Adipex-P suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using this medicine.

Before taking Adipex-P

Do not use Adipex-P if you have taken an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. Serious, life threatening side effects can occur if you use Adipex-P before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.

Taking Adipex-P together with other diet medications such as fenfluramine (Phen-Fen) or dexfenfluramine (Redux) can cause a rare fatal lung disorder called pulmonary hypertension. Do not take Adipex-P with any other diet medications without your doctor's advice.

You should not take Adipex-P if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

· coronary artery disease (hardening of the arteries);

· heart disease;

· severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure;

· overactive thyroid;

· glaucoma;

· if you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse; o

· if you are allergic to other diet pills, amphetamines, stimulants, or cold medications.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a Adipex-P dose adjustment or special tests:

· high blood pressure;

· diabetes; or

· a thyroid disorder.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Adipex-P will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Adipex-P. Phentermine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while taking Adipex-P. Do not give this medication to a child younger than 16 years old.

See also: Adipex-P pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

Adipex-P may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.

How should I take Adipex-P?

Take Adipex-P exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

It is best to take Adipex-P on an empty stomach before breakfast or within 2 hours after breakfast.

To prevent sleep problems, take Adipex-P early in the day, no later than 6:00 pm.

Talk with your doctor if you have increased hunger or if you otherwise think the medication is not working properly. Taking more of Adipex-P will not make it more effective and can cause serious, life-threatening side effects.

Adipex-P should be taken only for a short time, such as a few weeks.

Do not stop taking Adipex-P suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using Adipex-P.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Adipex-P is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.

See also: Adipex-P dosage (in more detail)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of Adipex-P can be fatal.

Overdose symptoms may include confusion, hallucinations, panic, feeling hostile or aggressive, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, irregular heartbeat, rapid breathing, overactive reflexes, confusion, hallucinations, seizure (convulsions), feeling light-headed, or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking Adipex-P?

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of Adipex-P. Phentermine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Adipex-P side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Adipex-P: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

· chest pain, feeling like you might pass out;

· swelling in your ankles or feet;

· pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;

· confusion or irritability, unusual thoughts or behavior;

· feelings of extreme happiness or sadness; or

· dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Less serious Adipex-P side effects may include:

· feeling restless or hyperactive;

· headache, dizziness, tremors;

· sleep problems (insomnia);

· dry mouth or an unpleasant taste in your mouth;

· diarrhea or constipation, upset stomach; or

· increased or decreased interest in sex, impotence.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Adipex-P side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Adipex-P?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

· blood pressure medications;

· insulin or oral diabetes medication;

· guanethidine (Ismelin); or

· an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and others.

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with Adipex-P. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Adderall--types of drugs

What is Adderall?

Adderall is a central nervous system stimulant. It affects chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control.

Adderall is used to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Adderall may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Adderall

Do not take Adderall if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take Adderall before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body. Do not use this medication if you are allergic to amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, or if you have hardened arteries (arteriosclerosis), heart disease, moderate to severe high blood pressure (hypertension), overactive thyroid, glaucoma, severe anxiety or agitation, or a history of drug or alcohol addiction. Some stimulants have caused sudden death in children and adolescents with serious heart problems or congenital heart defects. Before taking Adderall, tell your doctor if you have any type of heart problems.

Long-term use of this medicine can slow a child's growth. Tell your doctor if the child using Adderall is not growing or gaining weight properly.

Adderall is a drug of abuse and may be habit-forming. Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. You should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription. Using this medication improperly can cause death or serious side effects on the heart.

Before taking Adderall

Do not take Adderall if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take Adderall before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.

Do not use Adderall if you are allergic to amphetamine and dextroamphetamine or if you have:

· heart disease or moderate to severe high blood pressure (hypertension);

· arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries);

· overactive thyroid;

· glaucoma;

· severe anxiety, tension, or agitation; or

· if you have a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

Some stimulants have caused sudden death in children and adolescents with serious heart problems or congenital heart defects.

Before taking Adderall, tell your doctor if you have:

· a congenital heart defect;

· high blood pressure;

· heart failure, heart rhythm disorder, or recent heart attack;

· a personal or family history of mental illness, psychotic disorder, bipolar illness, depression, or suicide attempt;

· epilepsy or other seizure disorder; or

· tics (muscle twitches) or Tourette's syndrome.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Adderall will harm an unborn baby. It could cause premature birth, low birth weight, or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn if the mother takes this medication during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use Adderall without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

See also: Adderall pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

Long-term use of Adderall can slow a child's growth. Tell your doctor if the child using Adderall is not growing or gaining weight properly.

How should I take Adderall?

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from Adderall.

Do not take Adderall in the evening because it may cause sleep problems (insomnia).

Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended-release Adderall capsule. Swallow it whole. Breaking or opening the capsule may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

Your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

This medication can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using Adderall.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Adderall is a drug of abuse and may be habit-forming. Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. You should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription. Using Adderall improperly can cause death or serious side effects on the heart.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, or if it is already evening. Taking this medicine late in the day can cause sleep problems. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of Adderall can be fatal.

Overdose symptoms may include restlessness, tremor, muscle twitches, rapid breathing, confusion, hallucinations, panic, aggressiveness, unexplained muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flu symptoms, and dark colored urine. These symptoms may be followed by depression and tiredness. Other overdose symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, uneven heartbeats, feeling light-headed, fainting, seizure (convulsions), or coma.

What should I avoid while taking Adderall?

Adderall may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Do not take Adderall late in the day. A dose taken too late in the day can cause sleep problems (insomnia).

Avoid drinking fruit juices or taking vitamin C at the same time you take Adderall. These can make your body absorb less of the medicine.

Adderall side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Adderall and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats;

· feeling light-headed, fainting;

· increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure); or

· tremor, restlessness, hallucinations, unusual behavior, or motor tics (muscle twitches).

Less serious Adderall side effects may include:

· headache or dizziness;

· sleep problems (insomnia);

· dry mouth or an unpleasant taste in your mouth;

· diarrhea, constipation;

· loss of appetite, weight loss; or

· loss of interest in sex, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Adderall side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Adderall?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

· blood pressure medications;

· a diuretic (water pill);

· cold or allergy medicines (antihistamines);

· acetazolamide (Diamox);

· chlorpromazine (Thorazine);

· ethosuximide (Zarontin);

· haloperidol (Haldol);

· lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);

· methenamine (Hiprex, Mandelamine, Urex);

· phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);

· propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet);

· reserpine;

· antacids, sodium bicarbonate (Alka-Seltzer);

· stomach acid reducers such as cimetidine (Tagamet),esomeprazole (Nexium), famotidine (Pepcid), lansoprazole (Prevacid), nizatidine (Axid), omeprazole (Prilosec), or ranitidine (Zantac); or

· an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), or nortriptyline (Pamelor).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with Adderall. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.