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Stopped Taking Phentermine. Started Feeling Dizzy, Nausea, Tingling And Palpitation. Any Ideas?
Question: Hello,
I started taking phentermine *only half the dose* for 1 week. Felt uneasy with it, even felt as I would pass out a few times, so I stopped taking it. That was back beginning of XXXXXXX 2012. About 1 week later I took half a 5 hour energy shot. About 2 hours later I almost blacked out, tunnel vision, bp 175/120 hr 140.. went into the ER and got a bp pill to calm things down. Ever since that day I have had nothing but problems. Overall sick feeling, dizziness, nausea, tingling, bp spikes and palpitations several times per day. Started taking Klonopin and metoprolol for 2 months. Both did not make me feel any better so I phased them out. I have now been to an herbalist to see if he can help. I have been on herbal and homeopathic regime for 2 months now. I have gotten better, my bp is ok, besides a few spikes here and there, but the dizziness and palpitations that come out of nowhere are still there. Accompanied with just a weird feeling in my head.. Mostly headache pains in the back of the skull, but now in the frontal part as well. Had an MRI, tons of bloodwork, my heart checked front to back, the docs are not able to find ANYTHING! I do not think I am having panic attacks or anything like that since the dizziness is ALWAYS there. I do not want to be on medication as I believe I will only take a pill for a pill.... and have side effects from each.. I just don't know what to do anymore. Also I have had some stomach problems lately. Underneath my left rib.. very dull, uncomfortable pain. More worried about my head though.. any ideas?? Please help! Thank you! XXXXXXX
I started taking phentermine *only half the dose* for 1 week. Felt uneasy with it, even felt as I would pass out a few times, so I stopped taking it. That was back beginning of XXXXXXX 2012. About 1 week later I took half a 5 hour energy shot. About 2 hours later I almost blacked out, tunnel vision, bp 175/120 hr 140.. went into the ER and got a bp pill to calm things down. Ever since that day I have had nothing but problems. Overall sick feeling, dizziness, nausea, tingling, bp spikes and palpitations several times per day. Started taking Klonopin and metoprolol for 2 months. Both did not make me feel any better so I phased them out. I have now been to an herbalist to see if he can help. I have been on herbal and homeopathic regime for 2 months now. I have gotten better, my bp is ok, besides a few spikes here and there, but the dizziness and palpitations that come out of nowhere are still there. Accompanied with just a weird feeling in my head.. Mostly headache pains in the back of the skull, but now in the frontal part as well. Had an MRI, tons of bloodwork, my heart checked front to back, the docs are not able to find ANYTHING! I do not think I am having panic attacks or anything like that since the dizziness is ALWAYS there. I do not want to be on medication as I believe I will only take a pill for a pill.... and have side effects from each.. I just don't know what to do anymore. Also I have had some stomach problems lately. Underneath my left rib.. very dull, uncomfortable pain. More worried about my head though.. any ideas?? Please help! Thank you! XXXXXXX
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing in to Healthcare Magic!
The phentermine is a strong psychoactive drug and is appetite suppressant and also a drug of abuse. I think you have taken it to reduce body weight and landed up in having intolerance and the side effects.
The phentermine acts on Autonomic nervous system and disturbs it's balance in favour of sympathomimetic side.
It causes all the problems you have suffered. Some people tolerate it well other get problems like you did.
I think you have developed severe gastritis and acid peptic disease secondary to it's use and may be you had a fragile higher side BP earlier that shoot up due to the medicine.
I would advise to start medicines that sooth your gut and reduce the effect of the irritation on the mucosa, the Proton pump inhibitors like Rabeprazole are particularly effective. You should continue metoprolol- restart it if BP is high, it would help recovery and protect from complications.
For dizziness you should take Hyoscine butylbromide.
Take these medicine in supervision of your local physician and follow up.
I think you would recover in 6weeks time.
Avoid the phentermine and energy shot in future.
Include regular exercises in your daily schedule, to regularise and restore the rhythm of XXXXXXX environment.
If you have any further query please let me know I would try to answer it for you.
Wish you a great health!
Thanks for writing in to Healthcare Magic!
The phentermine is a strong psychoactive drug and is appetite suppressant and also a drug of abuse. I think you have taken it to reduce body weight and landed up in having intolerance and the side effects.
The phentermine acts on Autonomic nervous system and disturbs it's balance in favour of sympathomimetic side.
It causes all the problems you have suffered. Some people tolerate it well other get problems like you did.
I think you have developed severe gastritis and acid peptic disease secondary to it's use and may be you had a fragile higher side BP earlier that shoot up due to the medicine.
I would advise to start medicines that sooth your gut and reduce the effect of the irritation on the mucosa, the Proton pump inhibitors like Rabeprazole are particularly effective. You should continue metoprolol- restart it if BP is high, it would help recovery and protect from complications.
For dizziness you should take Hyoscine butylbromide.
Take these medicine in supervision of your local physician and follow up.
I think you would recover in 6weeks time.
Avoid the phentermine and energy shot in future.
Include regular exercises in your daily schedule, to regularise and restore the rhythm of XXXXXXX environment.
If you have any further query please let me know I would try to answer it for you.
Wish you a great health!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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