I used Ionamin last year for 3 months 15mg,30mg,15mg, and lost @ 2 lbs a week. I was told by my Dr. I could do this once a year if I was over my target weight. I still have 15 lbs to go and he gave me another 3 months but my insurance will not cover this drug anymore. The will cover generic phen same mg or more (it is not time release w/ resin?). Has anyone used both- any diff with side effects, does it work?

Phentermine and Ionamin are the same drug-the difference is that Ionamin is the time released form (resin based), phen is not. I've never taken Ionamin, so I can't compare the two personally. Years ago, my sister and I wanted to start a plan to lose weight together-I did phen, and my sister did Ionamin. I lost 15 pounds the first month, she didn't lose any. I ended up losing 45-50 pounds in about 3 months I think. She didn't (and still doesn't) want to do phentermine, because the side effects may be stronger without the time release.....you kind of "get it all at once" with phen, and that causes some people to get jittery. I never had a problem with it, but you can get a lower dose (I took the strongest, 37.5 mg) or split the pills and take 1/2 in the morning and afternoon if that bothers you.