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Why is this drug prescribed?
Adipex are used in the short-term treatment of obesity. Their appetite-reducing effect tends to decrease after a few weeks. Because of this, these medicines are useful only during the first few weeks
of a weight-loss program. The Adipex can help you to lose weight while you are learning new ways to eat and to exercise. Changes in eating habits and activity level must be developed and continued lon
g-term in order for you to continue losing weight and to keep the lost weight from returning
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Symptoms of overdose
Abdominal or stomach cramps; coma; confusion; convulsions (seizures); diarrhea (severe); dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; fast breathing; feeling of panic; fever; hallucinations (seei
ng, hearing or feeling things that are not there); high or low blood pressure; hostility with urge to attack; irregular heartbeat; nausea or vomiting (severe); overactive reflexes; restlessness;
trembling or shaking; tiredness, weakness, and mental depression following effects of excitement
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What side effects can this medication cause?
Appetite suppressants may cause some serious side effects, including heart and lung problems. You and your doctor should discuss the good this medicine may do as well as the risks of taking it.
<
br> Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with y
our doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Chest pain; decreased ability to exercise ; fainting; swelling of feet or lower legs; trouble in breathing
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What special precautions should I follow?
If you have been taking this medicine for a long time or in large doses and you think you may have become mentally or physically dependent on it, check with your doctor.
- Some signs of depe
ndence on appetite suppressants are:
- a strong desire or need to continue taking the medicine.
- a need to increase the dose to receive the effects of the medicine.
- withdrawal side e
ffects (for example, mental depression, nausea or vomiting, stomach cramps or pain, trembling, unusual tiredness or weakness) when you stop taking the medicine
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Other Medicines
Remember that this drug should never be combined with the weight-loss drug fenfluramine (Pondimin); very dangerous side effects could result. This drug may also react badly with alcohol. Avoid alcohol
ic beverages while you are taking it.
It is especially important that you check with your doctor before combining this drug with the following:
- Drugs that boost serotonin levels,
such as the antidepressants Luvox, Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft
- Drugs classified as MAO inhibitors, including the antidepressants Nardil and Parnate
- Diabetes medications such as insulin and
Micronase
- High blood pressure medications such as guanethidine (Ismelin)
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