phentermine
 

I am coming back from a 9 month relapse. I went to a meeting tonight and got a white chip and today was day 1.

I have a question about a medication I have been taking for a couple months. It is called Phentermine which is the generic version of Adipex. It is prescribed for weight loss and it is an appetite suppressant and gives you a bit of energy.

It has been helping me because when I started taking it I weight 239 pounds and I am only 5'1. Now I am down to 219 pounds and I have a long way to go.

I was wondering, if I continue to take that medication, would I technically not be considered sober? Would AA consider me not sober?

what is prescribed for you is between you and your doctor ;)

D

Not an AAer so I dunno what their opinion might be but I know this: 20 lbs is nothing to shake a stick at. Congratulations on your weight loss!

http://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/p-11_...ersMedDrug.pdf

Linked with the permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

:)

D

Thanks Dee! That link is very helpful :)

True - thank you D

Hi there. I was interested in your post.

Well done on your weight loss first of all and good luck on your return to sobriety!

As Dee said what your Doc prescribes is between you and he.

But interestingly, as I do know from personal experience, Phentermine itself has been banned in most European countries for many years now because it is classed as an Amphetimine. There have been some very dangerous and permanent side effects from taking it especially when mixed with alcohol use.

I am absolutely not wanting to scaremonger you but has your Dr explained the full implications of this med? Does he know that you have a drink problem.

You may want to have a look at some of the research published over the past few years and ask him a couple of probing questions.

All the best to you.

No, I am not aware of the effects of taking it while drinking alcohol. Could you fill me in? I will look it up myself also. And no, my doctor does not know about my drinking problem.

The meds should come with a leaflet IJM. If that info doesn't answer your question see the Dr for sure.

I understand why you don't want to tell the Dr about your drinking problem but it gets a bit tricky if the Dr only knows half the story?

D

Your doctor needs to know you drink, as some meds are NOT to be taken when drinking. :( Please be honest with your doctor so they can give you the help you need. :hug:

Hi ItsJustMe

I don't want to possibly give you any false information so as Dee said talk to your Doc, read the leaflet and there are plenty of reliable official sites on line that you can research.

The European equivalent of the FDA publish their research as to why it is considered unsafe and why they have now classed it as an unlicensed amphetimine as does the National Health Service. The concerns are linked mainly, but not exclusively, to cardiac problems.

Please please tell the Doctor you drink.

I do know what it is like to be overweight. But being sober and having a healthy heart are number one on my list. The weight is coming off on its own now I have stopped drinking.

All the best.

My doctor, who is a recovering alcoholic with 19 years in the program, who is also a renowned addictions specialist, who knows my addictive history including Ritalin abuse AND hornswaggling doctors, my doctor prescribes me adderall because I have AD/HD bad.

Nuff said?

Seriously though. Congrats on making it back to the program. I would think that if your doctor knows you're an alcoholic and possibly knows anything about AA, that the prescription should be ok. Also that link about meds and AA helped me also (I got it in pamphlet form at a meeting).


P.s. I speak addict. In my language, "gives you a bit of energy," translates into Normalese as, "YEEEEEEHAAAWWWW!!!!!!"

But that's just me. Good luck on your program.

Rob:c011:

AA does not consider anyone sober or not. We and we alone are the only person that can judge. I know for myself that phentarimine gave me a speed high so I can not take it