Gotta question to throw out to you smart chickies...

I have a doctor's appointment Wednesday evening. I am considering asking my doctor for pharmaceutical assistance in my quest to loose weight. If you look at my Registered date, Aug 1999, I currently weigh the same as I did when I began here. One triumph is that I have not actually gained, though I did loose 20 lbs when I first began and I did gain those back. But I started here at 199.5 and currently I am hanging around that weight.

Has anyone used and prescription drugs in association with a low carb plan. Are there any good Rx's out there for weight loss?


HELP ME PLEASE

I need answers. Thank you for your help.

jenny

Jenny,

Just be careful what ever the doctor puts you on, do it with smarts.
I was on phentermene (thats the good part of Phen Fen) the one they didn't ban. Phentermene (spelling ???) is like a water pill and it makes your belly feel full. It has been on the market for over 30 years with no problems. I did wonderful on it..lost lots but then once I was off it I went back to my old eating habbits and booooooooom gained it all back and then some.

What I'm trying to say is drugs can help but they aren't the key to weight loss. Drugs can help the symptoms but they don't cure the cause. So I have learned. Learning how to deal with whatever our eating problems are will go a long way - trust me.

I don't mean to be negative - I'm just telling you about my own personal experiences with drugs and dieting but everyone is different and you should do what is right for you (under a doctors strict supervision).

Good Luck tomorrow at the dr's.
Let us know how you make out.

Love, Leens

Hi Jenny,
I know this won't be popular with everyone, but I just (last two weeks) started taking Tenuate. I did some research on it, and it too has been around for a long time. I really like it. I was feeling like I needed some help in getting a quick re-start to this process. I'm not planning on doing it for a long time, but for now it's helping. I know that the only way to lose weight is to change your eating and exercise habits, but I feel that this is helping me get started in changing them again. I have tried every single diet and diet gimmick (yep, I did Fen-Phen) invented in the past and this particular drug doesn't make me feel awful like so many did. The worst thing I ever tried was Metabolife. I felt shakey and rotten. Same for the speed that diet doctors used to pass out like candy. (Anyone else remember that?) I also think that right now my extra weight is more of a health hazard than the drug, especially since I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and my joints need a break! So, to each her own, but that's my two cents worth!
Chickadee

Hi Jenny!

I was so glad to see Leenie's and Chickadee's reply because I was beginning to feel like a square peg!

I have been using phentermine off and on for about 3 months. Lately it has been more off than on! I like it because it does take away my appetite and most of all because it stops me from bingeing. What I Really don't like about it is that if I take it early in the day, by evening I have the munchies. If I take it later in the day I can not sleep.

It, like other things are not magic, (but you know that all ready) but they do help if you work a program in conjunction with it. They don't work on their own.

Good luck Jenny and let us know what you decide on....remember to tell your dr about your heart thingie a while back ago too, that may be important!!!!

hugs!
peach

Hi Jenny,

Here is what advice I can offer, after extensive research of various medically induced options. I opted for a prescription as well. The alternative is still too scary to even contemplate for me (I'm talking by-pass surgery, here).

I spoke with my doctor and we decided that Xenical is what I would try. She has prescribed a high protein, low carb (no more than 50g per day) diet. 5 (yes, that is FIVE) liters of water per day. And, plenty of exercise.

The Xenical acts as a "fat blocker". It works with your digestive tract to stop about 30-40% of the fats to not absorb in your system. Now, for some people (especially those who are not regular) this can create some embarassing side effects when you are going potty. For me this has not been an issue. I do tend to have looser stools (sorry for TMI, but I want you know what you're going to be dealing with), but after about the first month everything returns to almost normal.

The Xenical must be used with a more typical high protein diet to really be effective. It doesn't increase metabolism, make you feel more energetic, or squelch your desire to eat, but it does block fats. And, with the weight loss all the other stuff seems to come naturally. Now, if you are on a low-FAT diet, it is completely uneffective.

My other choice was Meridia, but we eventually made the choice to not use it because I like to dabble with herbal supplements (like St. John's Wort and SAM-e, among a few) and anyone who uses mood enhancing prescription drugs or herbal mood enhancing supplements should not use the Meridia. It works with your brain chemistry to send the receptors the "I'm not hungry" message. And, it claims to help give you energy. So, it was out for me.

Results: Well to be truthfully honest, I don't exercise nearly as much as I should. I'm lucky if I get one walk in a week. BUT, I have lost 25 pounds in 2 1/2 months (of course the first 7-8 came off that first week of all that water). I still drink my water and I try VERY hard to stay on the program. I am not hungry and I'm definitely not thirsty.

I'm not sure if the Xenical is the answer to the results that I've seen, but I do think it enhances the effects of the low-carb diet. I think, though, that the low carb diet would be almost as successful without it.

This is what works for me. I would most certainly talk to your doctor, in depth, about your options. They can advise you best, based on your medical history and blood work. And, anyone else here who knows more about this should definitely speak up!

Good luck and keep us posted!
Jenniwookie
265/242.5/180

I will admit that i too have used a thermogenic. i have not had the juttery feelings like many have and i do not get mental changess (maybe i do and do not know it)

I can only suooprt your decision and back you up. try what is needed to get the weight off atleast for a head start, then you can take over. good luck and let us know what you decide.

Jenny you have been given great information. Only you and your doctor can decide if it is right for you. In my opinion, if it helps, why not.

Debbie

WOW, I knew if I would ask, great responses would come!

Thank you for all of your valuable information, I will print this thread and bring it with me to my appointment. I know that pharmaceuticals are not the best answer, I know that eating right and exercise and lifestyle change are the way to a good weight loss program. But after 43 years of knowing the answer and not reaching my goal, I am looking for a little temporary intervention.

I will let you know what my doctor and I decide.

Thank you my friends,

jenny

I too am using phentermine. I used it once before with good sucess, but that was before I had two kids!

I agree that you have to weigh (pardon the pun) the ill health effects of the medications with that of being obese.

A warning.... drink lots of water and eat according to plan!
I find I really have to push myself to eat, as my strategy is not to starve myself thin, but modify my eating habits. If I don't eat properly one day, I will skip my dosage for the next day to keep myself on an even keel.

(ps. averaging 2lbs per week so far, 5 weeks into it!)