Appetite Suppressants, Sympathomimetic (Systemic)
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it may do.
This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For sympathomimetic appetite
suppressants, the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to this medicine or amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, ephedrine,
epinephrine, isoproterenol, metaproterenol, methamphetamine, norepinephrine,
phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, pseudoephedrine, terbutaline, or other
appetite suppressants. Also tell your health care professional if you are
allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Diet - You must follow a reduced-calorie diet while
using an appetite suppressant in order to lose weight. Also, in order to keep
the lost weight from returning, changes in diet and exercise must be continued
after the weight has been lost.
Pregnancy - If a pregnant woman takes this medicine in high doses
or more often than the doctor has directed, it may cause withdrawal symptoms
in the newborn baby. Also, medicines similar to sympathomimetic appetite suppressants
can cause birth defects in the newborn baby if a pregnant woman takes them
in high doses. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if
you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
Breast-feeding - Diethylpropion and benzphetamine pass into breast
milk. It is not known if other sympathomimetic appetite suppressants pass
into breast milk. However, use of sympathomimetic appetite suppressants during
breast-feeding is not recommended, because it may cause unwanted effects in
nursing babies.
Children - Studies on these medicines have been done only in
adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of sympathomimetic
appetite suppressants in children with use in other age groups. The use of
these medicines by children younger than 16 years of age is not recommended.
Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically
in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly
the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects
or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use
of appetite suppressants in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking
appetite suppressants, it is especially important that your health care professional
know if you are taking any of the following:
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Amantadine (e.g., Symmetrel) or
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Amphetamines or
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Caffeine (e.g., NoDoz) or
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Chlophedianol (e.g., Ulone) or
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Cocaine or
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Medicine for asthma or other breathing problems or
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Medicine for colds, sinus problems, or hay fever or other allergies
(including nose drops or sprays) or
-
Methylphenidate (e.g., Ritalin) or
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Nabilone (e.g., Cesamet) or
-
Pemoline (e.g., Cylert) - Using these medicines with sympathomimetic
appetite suppressants may increase the central nervous system (CNS) stimulant
effects, such as irritability, nervousness, trembling or shaking, or trouble
in sleeping
-
Appetite suppressants (diet pills), other or
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Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (citalopram [e.g., Celexa],
fluoxetine [e.g., Prozac], fluvoxamine [e.g., Luvox], paroxetine [e.g., Paxil],
sertraline [e.g., Zoloft]) - It is not known whether using two different
appetite suppressants together or using a sympathomimetic appetite suppressant
with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor is safe and effective. There
have been some serious unwanted effects on the hearts of people who used two
different appetite suppressants together
-
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g.,
Marplan], isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil],
procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine
[e.g., Parnate]) - Do not take an appetite suppressant
while you are taking or less than 14 days after taking a monoamine oxidase
(MAO) inhibitor
. If you do, you may develop sudden extremely high blood
pressure
-
Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline [e.g., Elavil], amoxapine
[e.g., Asendin], clomipramine [e.g., Anafranil], desipramine [e.g., Pertofrane],
doxepin [e.g., Sinequan], imipramine [e.g., Tofranil], nortriptyline [e.g.,
Aventyl], protriptyline [e.g., Vivactil], trimipramine [e.g., Surmontil]) - Using
these medicines with sympathomimetic appetite suppressants may cause high
blood pressure or irregular heartbeat
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of appetite suppressants. Make sure you tell your
doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Alcohol abuse (or history of) or
-
Drug abuse or dependence (or history of) - Dependence on appetite
suppressants may be more likely to develop
-
Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) - The amount of insulin or
oral antidiabetic medicine that you need to take may change
-
Epilepsy - Diethylpropion may increase the risk of having seizures
-
Family history of mental illness - Mental depression or other
mental illness may be more likely to occur
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Glaucoma or
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Heart or blood vessel disease or
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High blood pressure or
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Mental illness or
-
Overactive thyroid - Appetite suppressants may make the condition
worse
-
Kidney disease - Higher blood levels of the appetite suppressant
may occur, increasing the chance of serious side effects
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