Phendimetrazine tartrate (
Bontril®) is a prescription weight loss medication only approved for short-term use. It should be used in conjunction with an appropriate diet. Phendimetrazine comes in two forms: a short-acting version and a long-acting version.
Phendimetrazine Side Effects
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with phendimetrazine. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
Common side effects include but are not limited to:
(Click Side Effects of Phendimetrazine to learn more, including potentially serious side effects you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking It?
Talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking phendimetrazine if you have:
- A recent history of heart attack
- Agitation
- A history of drug or alcohol abuse
- Any allergies, including allergies to foods, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
The dose of phendimetrazine your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- The particular phendimetrazine product
- How you respond to the drug
- Whether you develop bothersome or dangerous side effects
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Other medications you may be taking.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
What If I Take an Overdose?
People who take too much phendimetrazine may experience the following symptoms:
- Hyperactivity (trouble sitting still)
- Fast breathing
- High blood pressure or low blood pressure
- Changes in heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Confusion
- Fever
- Muscle pains
- Shakiness
- Aggressiveness
- Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not really there)
- Seizures
- Loss of life.
If you happen to overdose on phendimetrazine, seek immediate medical attention.
How Should Phendimetrazine Be Stored?
Phendimetrazine tablets and capsules should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Keep the tablets and capsules in an airtight container.
Keep phendimetrazine and all other medications out of the reach of children.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?
If you do not take your phendimetrazine as scheduled, take your missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
How Does Phendimetrazine Work?
Phendimetrazine works by suppressing the appetite, and it may also increase the metabolism. It is chemically similar to amphetamines.
Only very short studies have evaluated the effectiveness of medications like phendimetrazine. In these studies, people taking these medications lost more weight than those who were not taking them. However, the difference was small (only a fraction of a pound more per week for the people taking the medications). Studies also suggest that the effects of these medications for weight loss decrease after the first few weeks.
When and How to Take Phendimetrazine
General considerations for when and how to take phendimetrazine include the following:
- The medication comes in the form of a short-acting tablet or a long-acting capsule. The capsules are taken once daily, while the tablets are taken two or three times a day.
- The long-acting capsules should be taken 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast. The short-acting tablets should be taken one hour before meals.
- Phendimetrazine should be combined with an appropriate diet. It is not meant to be used without dieting.
- The short-acting tablets may be split in half, but the long-acting capsules should not be opened, chewed, or crushed.
- Do not take phendimetrazine more often or in higher doses than prescribed, as this can lead to addiction or dependence.
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed.
Phendimetrazine is currently made by Valeant Pharmaceuticals.
Phendimetrazine comes in the following strengths and forms:
- Phendimetrazine 35 mg tablets (short-acting)
- Phendimetrazine 105 mg capsules (long-acting).
Is There a Generic Version of Phendimetrazine?
Currently, both brand-name and generic versions of the short-acting tablets are licensed for sale
(see Generic Bontril). However, no other medications are equivalent to the long-acting capsules.
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