Phentermine and Periods

Updated on April 02, 2013
A.C. asks from Aurora, IN
6 answers

OK, I'll just let you know now, this is one of those TMI kind of questions. Read at your own risk. LOL!

I started taking phentermine March 29th to help me lose weight. Diet & exercise alone seriously did nothing with a capital "N". Anyhow, my doctor prescribed them to me, with close monitoring so I don't have a stroke or anything else.

My "normal" cycle prior to phentermine were never normal in timing, but once it hit I could always count on it being the same story. Every 40-50 days I would have one. It would be an insanely heavy flow (always very red & clotty) and it would last 5 days, fizzling out late the 5th day or early the 6th. And when I say insanely heavy, I mean wow.....

I was due (was within my 40-50 days) when I started taking phentermine. That was Friday a week and a half ago. I started spotting brown 2 days later on that Sunday. While I have had days where it's more red than others, it's mostly brown. It's much much much lighter than normal, which rocks my world. However, today is day 8 and we're still trucking with no signs of it fizzling out.

So my question, have any of you ladies taken phentermine? Did it effect your cycles? In what way? If you experienced something similar to my story, HOW LONG DID IT GO ON???????

A tad more info, I do have PCOS which is why my cycles are rather goofy in timing but I really don't think what's happening now is a coincidence or related to the PCOS. Nowhere does the FDC mention anything about goofy cycles being a side effect though.

Thanks ladies!

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Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.S.

answers from Nashville on

I googled 'phentermine and periods' and it looks like a lot of women report changes in their cycles while taking this drug. It could also be related to your diet and exercise. Are you eating less than 1000 calories a day? That could do it too. Here's the link to one of the threads I found:

http://www.phentermine.com/forum/my-experience-phentermin...

Good luck with your weight loss!

P.S. normally I would probably say 'just google it' instead of doing it for you, but I can't sleep tonight and im bored so I'm using your question for busywork :-)

3 moms found this helpful

T.R.

answers from Milwaukee on

Hi A. I've been on Phentermine before, & did not have any of the types of symptoms you are describing.

Sometimes things truly are coincidences... my knowledge of this drug is that there would be no correlation between having started it on Friday & then experiencing the symptoms you described on Sunday.

However, many people don't think to utilize this resource - talk to your local pharmacist. Doesn't even have to be the one you get your Rx from... (esp if your pharmacy only has a male, you might be more comfortable talking with a female pharmacist). But they are a wealth of knowledge & often times know more about drug effects than doctors do.

Best of luck! T.

3 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I've taken it before (more than 10 years ago) and I'm on it now.
It didn't affect my period then or now.
I was pre peri-menopausal back then and everything was as regular, as long and as heavy as usual.
I'm peri-menopausal now and I can go about 70 days between cycles (this was before I started up with phentermine again last Dec) and nothing has changed period wise.
Weight wise I'm down 40+ lbs and as per my Dr I'm sticking with eating 1200 calories per day and keeping up with my water intake (at least eight 8 oz glasses of water per day).

See your ob/gyn.
It might be just your PCOS acting up or not.

My friend had a period where the bleeding got longer, heavier and gradually got more frequent to the point where it became continuous and she became anemic.
It turned out to be an early symptom of breast cancer.
She had a lumpectomy, did chemo and radiation treatments and took medication to put her into chemical menopause for 5 years (her type of cancer fed off hormones so they suppressed them).
She's fine now and has been cancer free for over 20 years.

Phentermine never affected my cycles but people are different and I can't say that it's not affecting yours.
I had horrible side effects when I took cholesterol lowering medication but other people take it and never experienced what I went through.
Make an appointment with your ob/gyn and get it checked out.

2 moms found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

i took phen-fen, and it was wonderful. easy, effortless weight loss. oh, to have it back!
but it didn't mess with my cycle at all, so can't help you there. sorry!
khairete
S.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.Z.

answers from Omaha on

I have been on it since Jan. I have mirena so mine is non existant anymore but I have other friends on it and it hasnt effected them. I would talk to someone about your cycle. Maybe there is another issue?

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.L.

answers from Chicago on

I am on it and it has not affected my cycles. Was on it in the past and no change at that time. either.

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