Phendimetrazine Tartrate

Phendimetrazine Tartrate Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Precautions Before Starting Phendimetrazine Tartrate

Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to phendimetrazine tartrate, any of the active or inactive ingredients in phendimetrazine tartrate tablets or extended-release tablets, tartrazine (yellow dye), other drugs used to suppress appetite, or any other medications. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of all your medicines, including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid very serious interactions between phendimetrazine tartrate and your other medications. People who are taking medications called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors) or have taken them within the last 14 days should not take phendimetrazine tartrate.

Give your health care professional a complete medical history. Phendimetrazine tartrate may not be safe for people with certain health conditions, such as symptomatic cardiovascular disease, including valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, heart arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, or uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure). Also, tell your doctor if you have a history of overactive thyroid or substance use disorder (drug abuse). 

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, are planning a pregnancy, or are breast-feeding. This drug may cause harm to the unborn baby if a pregnant woman takes it. It is unclear if this and other similar drugs pass into breast milk.

Elderly patients (age 65 and above) should talk to their doctor about the safety of taking phendimetrazine tartrate for appetite suppression. There may be other safer alternatives available.

Precautions During Use of Phendimetrazine Tartrate

Keep all your medical and lab appointments during treatment with phendimetrazine tartrate. Your doctor may want to adjust your dose and monitor you for side effects.

Tell your doctor if phendimetrazine tartrate is not working for you. Do not increase the dose of this medicine without talking to your health care professional. Remember, this medicine only works as an add-on to caloric restriction.

Phendimetrazine tartrate can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and blurred vision. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how it affects you. Alcohol can make these side effects worse. Avoid drinking alcohol while on this medicine.

Tell your doctor if you notice even mild hypertension (a slight increase in your blood pressure readings at home). 

If you have diabetes mellitus, your insulin and diabetes medication requirements may change after starting phendimetrazine tartrate and a reduced-calorie dietary regimen. Talk to your health care professional about blood sugar control while on this medication.

Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while on phendimetrazine tartrate.

Phendimetrazine Tartrate Drug Interactions

Certain other medicines can affect how phendimetrazine tartrate works. Possible drug interactions between phendimetrazine tartrate and other medicines can increase the risk of severe adverse effects. Your doctor may change the dose of your medications, switch you to other therapies, and/or monitor you carefully for side effects if there are known interactions between phendimetrazine tartrate and your other medicines.

Avoid taking MAO inhibitors at the same time or within 14 days of phendimetrazine tartrate. Examples of MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid (Marplan), selegiline (Eldepryl, Zelapar, Emsam), phenelzine (Nardil), linezolid (Zyvox), and tranylcypromine (Parnate).

The following medications can also have serious interactions with phendimetrazine tartrate:

• Central nervous system stimulants such as methylphenidate
• Tricyclic antidepressants such as amoxapine, amitriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, lofepramine, nortriptyline, and others
• Medications used to treat high prolactin levels, such as cabergoline
• Migraine medications such as dihydroergotamine and ergotamine
• Respiratory medications such as doxapram
• Medications used to treat high blood pressure, such as guanethidine
• Insulin and diabetes medications
• Other medications for weight loss

The above list does not include all the possible drug interactions of phendimetrazine tartrate. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare provider if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use street drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription and over-the-counter medicines.