Patient reviews online show phentermine and tirzepatide to both be more effective and far better tolerated than semaglutide, as the below table illustrates.

Phentermine

• Rating 8,7
• Reviews 3015
• Positive effect 84%
• Negative effect 5%

Tirzepatide

• Rating 8,7
• Reviews 1707
• Positive effect 81%
• Negative effect 5%

Semaglutide

• Rating 7
• Reviews 2522
• Positive effect 57%
• Negative effect 20%

For the majority of people, phentermine remains the weight loss medication of choice, due to its effectiveness, extensive track record of safety, and affordability.

Until recently due to Ozempic marketing spend.
$491 million ad campaign 2023
$401 million in 2022

LINK

Causes of obesity can be seen more as a chronic disease with biological and behavioral underpinnings, similar to diabetes or hypertension.

Just as medications are now being routinely used to treat conditions such as depression or smoking, which were once also thought due to poor behavior or moral failings,

Obesity recognized as a health condition is poorly controllable through behavior alone, can benefit from phentermine in combination with behavioral change.

Phentermine works by Reducing calorie intake by

• reducing hunger and
• slowing gastric emptying, decreasing the calorie intake needed to feel satiated;
• speeding up the metabolism, to a slight degree.

Phentermine effectively decreases appetite to levels below those normally experienced.
A markedly decreased appetite makes a calorie-restricted diet much easier to follow, which aids in the weight loss process.

Primary effect on the hypothalamus, which is a very deep part of the brain responsible for hunger, thirst, as well as influencing arousal levels and sleep.

Phentermine is a prescribed weight loss aid, for participants in a physician supervised weight control program. Phentermine is approved by FDA for treatment of clinically overweight or obese

Phentermine, the most popular and effective prescription weight loss medication available today!

The highest-rated FDA-approved weight loss medication available today!

Phentermine can be considered by

• clinically obese BMI >= 30;
• overweight BMI >= 27 with obesity-related health risk factors, such heart disease, colon, breast, endometrial and prostate cancers, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, sleep apnea, gallbladder disease, and osteoarthritis.

Phentermine can be considered after

• attempts at losing weight without a medication aide either through a formal program and/or self-dieting have proven ineffective.
• after consultation with a physician, including a medical history and a physical exam

When Phentermine is used correctly, under proper supervision by Physician and Registered Dietitian, phentermine is a very safe medication with low incidence of side effects.

Under our program results, by 4 weeks into the program, persisting side effects for participants

• 10%: dry mouth
• 2%: dry mouth, sleeplessness, constipation.

As tolerance to Phentermine continues to build, these side effects continue to gradually subside.

Dry mouth

• most common side effect
• one which lingers the longest.
• manageable by drinking water and chewing sugar-free gum.

Sleeplessness

1. next most common side effect

• having a hard time falling asleep
• awakening early in morning and not being able to get back to sleep.

2. This occurs primarily in the first week of Phentermine use subsiding to the level of a nuisance; however, for some patients it can linger for a few weeks, diminishing gradually over this time.

Constipation

• occurs fairly frequently
• lingers for some,
• managed by water & fiber intake.

Mild headaches, restlessness, anxiety, irritability and occasional heart racing

• not uncommon in first few days of starting the program
• usually subside quickly throughout the first week.

Dizziness with sudden standing, blurred vision, hesitancy in starting urination (in men), and occasional gastrointestinal upset when taken on an empty stomach.

• Other side effects are rare and usually mild when they do occur

Phentermine is an FDA Schedule 4 controlled substance with minimal abuse liability.

Majority of participants have no significant euphoric effect, high, nor craving.

Tolerance develops over time with lessening side effects & appetite suppressant.

If abrupt drug discontinuation, participants would experience rebound hunger and fatigue. But no severe withdrawal symptoms of sort associated with nicotine or caffeine cessation.

Of more concern are development of psychological dependence on Phentermine, to which participants are using medication in lieu of developing good health habits.

One pill per day.
Dose size 30 or 37.5 mg

Unless otherwise indicated by participants past medical history,

On return visits, based on physician experience, dose may need to be adjusted

• Up for persisting hunger
• Down for persisting side effects.

When starting out,
Taking 1 phentermine per day,
Dose size 30 or 37.5 mg is adequate for all-day hunger control.

By Taking Phentermine at 9 or 10 am, hunger control

• takes effect by lunchtime
• lasts through dinner
• wears off by bedtime

Phentermine Response Indicators

Stimulant medications, caffeine and OTC decongestants

• If sensitive, low dose
• If tolerant, increased dose

Close relatives have similar tolerance.

Body size is not a predictor of response.

Phentermine tolerance builds up over time to appetite suppressant effects.

Dose titration done under a physician’s guidance.
Tolerance increase compensated by gradual titration of dose to provide all-day appetite control.

Participants do best by taking prescribed Phentermine daily.

Phentermine takes

• 3 to 5 days to build up in system

not feeling full effect until being on it for several day

• 3 to 5 days to wash out of system

if a day is missed, quite a bit left in the system.