Phendimetrazine Tartrate Capsules

What is Phendimetrazine Tartrate Capsules?

Phendimetrazine tartrate capsules (Slow Release) Capsules: 105 mg †
Phendimetrazine Tartrate (Immediate Release) Tablets: 35 mg †

General Information of Phendimetrazine Tartrate Capsules.

Phendimetrazine tartrate capsules is an oral, indirect-acting, nonamphetamine sympathomimetic amine. It is used as an anoretic agent for short-term (8 to 12 weeks) adjunct in the treatment of exogenous obesity. The pharmacologic effects of phendimetrazine are similar to amphetamines. Phendimetrazine is only indicated for use as monotherapy. This drug was approved by the FDA in 1961.

Phendimetrazine tartrate is a weight loss medication, which is chemically related to amphetamines and is commonly prescribed for the treatment of obesity. Essentially an appetite suppressant, phendimetrazine tartrate is categorized as a Schedule III drug under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the Uniform Controlled Substances Act of 1970.

After being developed in Germany in 1954, phendimetrazine tartrate was quickly recognized for its efficacy and potential benefits. By the 1960s it had met the approval criteria of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), passing its safety and effectiveness tests as an approved formula for weight loss and in the mid-90s its popularity increased after the FDA banned the diet drug Ephedra for its dangerous and potentially fatal side effects.

The latest diet pill rankings list phendimetrazine tartrate as the second most popular appetite suppressant formula in America and it is considered to be an effective and safe weight control aid when taken as directed. Phendimetrazine Tartrate Capsules.

Mechanism of Action

Similar to amphetamines, phendimetrazine increases the release of norepinephrine and dopamine from nerve terminals and inhibits their reuptake. Clinical effects include CNS stimulation and elevation of blood pressure. Appetite suppression is believed to occur through direct stimulation of the satiety center in the hypothalamic and limbic region.

Tolerance to the anorexiant effects of phendimetrazine usually develops within a few weeks of starting therapy. The mechanism of tolerance appears to be pharmacodynamic in nature; higher doses of phendimetrazine are required to produce the same response. When tolerance develops to the anorexiant effects, it is generally recommended that phendimetrazine be discontinued rather than the dose increased.

Indications and Uses Phendimetrazine Tartrate Capsules

Phendimetrazine tartrate is indicated as a short-term supplement to diet and exercise in the treatment of obesity. However, the appetite suppressing action of such drugs in the treatment of obesity is only considered to be primary as other central nervous system actions or metabolic effects may also be involved. For example, phendimetrazine tartrate may act in a similar way to amphetamines in that it activates the alpha-adrenergic system to induce both appetite suppressive and metabolic elevating effects.  Phendimetrazine Tartrate Capsules.

Storage of phentermine

Store this medication at 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C) and away from heat, moisture and light. Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Throw away any unused medicine after the beyond use date. Do not flush unused medications or pour down a sink or drain.

Interactions

Possible interactions include: medicines for diabetes or blood pressure, MAOIs, thyroid hormones and bupropion. This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications: MAOIs like Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate; medicines for colds or breathing difficulties like pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine; procarbazine; sibutramine; stimulants like amphetamines, phenidates, or modafinil. Do not take phendimetrazine if you are pregnant. Phendimetrazine Tartrate Capsules.

how much weight should you expect to loe while on phentermine.

Phendimetrazine is a phenylalkaline sympathomimetic agent.

All sympathomimetics and psychostimulants, including other anorexiants, should be used cautiously or avoided in patients receiving phendimetrazine. The safety of phendimetrazine when used with other anorexiants such as amphetamine, benzphetamine, dexfenfluramine, dextroamphetamine, diethylpropion, ephedrine, fenfluramine, or phentermine is controversial and concurrent use should be avoided.

The combined use of these agents may have the potential for additive side effects, such as hypertensive crisis or cardiac arrhythmia. Similarly, phendimetrazine should not be used in combination with OTC preparations and herbal products that may contain ephedra alkaloids or Ma huang.

Concurrent use of dronabinol, THC or nabilone with sympathomimetics (e.g., amphetamine, cocaine, or other sympathomimetics) may result in additive hypertension, tachycardia, and possibly cardiotoxicity. In a study of 7 adult males, combinations of cocaine (IV) and smoked marijuana (1 g marijuana cigarette, 0—2.7% delta-9-THC) increased the heart rate above levels seen with either agent alone, with increases plateauing at 50 bpm.

Sibutramine is contraindicated in patients taking other centrally acting appetite suppressant drugs, including phendimetrazine.

Phendimetrazine has vasopressor effects and can decrease the antihypertensive effect of guanethidine. Phendimetrazine may displace guanethidine from the neuron and antagonize the neuronal blockade caused by guanethidine.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), or drugs that possess MAO-inhibiting activity such as furazolidone, linezolid, or procarbazine, can prolong and intensify the cardiac stimulation and vasopressor effects of phendimetrazine. Phenelzine and tranylcypromine appear to produce the greatest risk since these two MAOIs also have intrinsic amphetamine-like activity. In the presence of MAOIs, phendimetrazine and other drugs that cause release of norepinephrine induce severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular responses. It is unclear if selegiline, an inhibitor of MAO type B, can also predispose to this reaction. Phendimetrazine should not be administered during or within 14 days following the use of most MAOIs or drugs with MAO-inhibiting activity.

However, rasagiline is a selective MAO-B inhibitor at manufacturer-recommended doses; serious reactions with sympathomimetics are not ordinarily expected. However, because a case of elevated blood pressure occurred during use of rasagiline and a sympathomimetic ophthalmic preparation, caution is advised when rasagiline is administered with sympathomimetics.

The pressor response to some sympathomimetics is exaggerated in patients currently receiving tricyclic antidepressants. Concomitant use of tricyclic antidepressants with sympathomimetics, including phendimetrazine, should be avoided whenever possible.

Phendimetrazine is a sympathomimetic agent. Sympathomimetics may increase blood sugar via stimulation of beta2-receptors which leads to increased glycogenolysis.

A pharmacodynamic interaction with antidiabetic agents may occur. Patients receiving antidiabetic agents should be closely monitored for loss of diabetic control when therapy with sympathomimetic agents is instituted. Conversely, diabetic patients may have decreased requirements of insulins, sulfonylureas or other antidiabetic agents in association with the use of phendimetrazine and the concomitant dietary regimen and weight loss. As long as blood glucose is carefully monitored to avoid hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, it appears that phendimetrazine can be used concurrently.

Halogenated anesthetics sensitize the myocardium to the effects of sympathomimetics. Chronic use of sympathomimetics prior to halogenated anesthetics may result in cardiac arrhythmias. Phendimetrazine should be discontinued several days prior to surgery using halogenated anesthetics.

The pharmacologic effects of phendimetrazine are similar to amphetamines. Amphetamines do not relieve cognitive impairment that results from ethanol intoxication, even though subjective improvements in motor performance have been noted on concomitant ingestion by patients. Ethanol containing beverages should generally be avoided while taking psychostimulants.13

Caution is advised when using thyroid hormones in combination with phendimetrazine; co-administration of sympathomimetics and thyroid hormones can enhance the cardiovascular effects of both agents. Patients with coronary artery disease have an increased risk of developing coronary insufficiency from either agent. Use of these agents concomitantly may increase this risk even further.

Atomoxetine has been reported to increase blood pressure and heart rate, probably via inhibition of norepinephrine reuptake.17 Due to an additive pharmacodynamic effect, phendimetrazine and atomoxetine should be used together cautiously, particular in patients with a history of cardiac disease. Consider monitoring heart rate and blood pressure at baseline and regularly throughout treatment if these agents must be used together.

Bupropion is associated with a dose-related risk of seizures.18 Excessive use of psychostimulants, including non-prescription stimulants and weight loss medications, is associated with an increased seizure risk; 18 seizures may be more likely to occur in these patients during concurrent use of bupropion. Patients should be closely monitored if these combinations are necessary.

This list may not include all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.