What is Adipex?

Adipex is a stimulant that is similar to an amphetamine. Adipex is an appetite suppressant that affects the central nervous system.

Adipex 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 may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What does Adipex look like?

Adipex is available in both tablet and capsule form.

Adipex tablets: are blue and white and oblong in shape. Each tablet is scored and debossed with "ADIPEX-P" and "9"-"9". Adipex tablet are packaged in bottles of 30

Adipex capsules: one end is opaque bright blue and the other end is opaque white. Imprinted onto each capsule is ADIPEX-P" - "37.5" and two dark blue stripes. Adipex Capsules are packaged in bottles of 100

Special warnings about Adipex-P

This drug can cause a rare but potentially fatal condition called primary pulmonary hypertension. Call your doctor immediately if you develop such warning signs as chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting spells, or swollen ankles.

This drug may affect your ability to perform potentially hazardous activities. Therefore, you should be extremely careful if you have to drive a car or operate machinery.

You can become psychologically dependent on this drug. Consult your doctor if you rely on this drug to maintain a state of well-being.

If you stop taking this drug suddenly after you have taken high doses for a long time, you may find you are extremely fatigued or depressed, or that you have trouble sleeping.

If you continually take too much of any appetite suppressant it can cause severe skin disorders, a pronounced inability to fall or stay asleep, irritability, hyperactivity, and personality changes.

Even if your blood pressure is only mildly high, be careful taking this drug.

How should I take Adipex?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Taking high doses of Adipex over long periods of time can cause severe skin problems, sleep problems (insomnia), personality changes, and feeling hyperactive or irritable. Take this medicine with a full glass of water. It is best to take Adipex on an empty stomach before breakfast, or at least 10 to 14 hours before bedtime.

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

Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended-release capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

You may have withdrawal symptoms when you stop using Adipex after using it over a long period of time. Do not stop using this medication suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.

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

Stop taking Adipex if you have increased hunger or if you otherwise think the medication is not working properly. Do not take more Adipex for an increased effect. Taking too much of this medication can cause serious, life-threatening side effects.

Adipex may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Keep track of how many pills have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Adipex is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription. Store Adipex at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Adipex?

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

Taking Adipex 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 with any other diet medications without your doctors advice.

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to Adipex or other stimulants, or if you have:

• heart disease or high blood pressure;
• arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries);
• an overactive thyroid;
• glaucoma;
• if you are in an agitated state; or
• if you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse.

Before taking Adipex, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• problems with your thyroid,
• an anxiety disorder,
• epilepsy or another seizure disorder, or
• diabetes.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Adipex, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

It is not known whether Adipex will harm an unborn baby. Do not take Adipex without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. It is also not known whether Adipex passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not take Adipex without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medication to anyone younger than 16 years old without the advice of a doctor.

Recommended dosage for Adipex-P

ADULTS

Adipex-P

The usual dose is 1 capsule or tablet a day, taken before breakfast or up to 2 hours after breakfast. Some people need only half a tablet each day. Others may find it more effective to take half a tablet twice daily.

Ionamin

The usual dose is 1 capsule a day, taken before breakfast or 10 to 14 hours before bedtime.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medication. An overdose of Adipex can be fatal.

Symptoms of a Adipex overdose may include confusion, hallucinations, feeling restless or aggressive, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, irregular heartbeat, tremors, rapid breathing, confusion, hallucinations, feeling light-headed, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).

Adipex with fenfluramine (Phen-Fen)

Adipex (phentermine) should not been taken with fenfluramine, when taken together this combination of drugs is known as Phen-Fen. Both phentermine and fenfluramine are FDA approved medications. However in 1997 the FDA issued a public health warning that when taken together patients are at considerable risk of developing abnormalities in their heart valves which could result in seriousness of the cardiac problems.