Obesity is considered to be a chronic pathological condition resulting from complicated interaction of emotions, psychological circumstances and genetic factors. The past 30-40 years of studies have brought evidence to the fact that obesity is additional health risk and can cause a spectrum of metabolic disorders, including hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and gall bladder disease. However, even mild reduction of weight shows improvements in blood pressure tests, glycemic control, and cholesterol levels as well as increases the lifetime of overweight patients. Weight loss also alleviates suffering which may be caused by social stigmatization or poor self-image.

Currently, epidemic of obesity is becoming a worldwide problem. That is why a significant emphasis on anti-obesity drugs is now made in pharmaceutics. Pharmacotherapy in the treatment of obese patients is primarily aimed at weight loss, weight loss maintenance and risk reduction.

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One of the most popular and effective drugs is Phentermine, a prescription medication, that is used to assist with the battle of obesity. Phentermine can be related to the group of appetite suppressants. It stimulates the hypothalamus gland and affects certain brain circuits to reduce appetite. The hypothalamus is considered to be responsible for the autonomic nervous system control, regulation of body temperature, sleep cycles, appetite and other functions.

Phentermine is a highly effective anti-obesity medication which is usually prescribed to overweight patients who suffer from diseases related to obesity. The amount of weight patients loose during phentermine therapy depends on the degree of caloric restriction and the course of exercises.

The way to healthy lifestyle and normal weight can be rather long and requires great patience. Phentermine is designed as a short term medication that can help people at the beginning of weight loosing process, making it easier for them to undergo changes in attitude towards exercises and food intake. Long-continued phentermine taking is useless and, what is more important can cause serious side effects. After several weeks of treatment, the body accommodates to the drug and starts building up resistance to its effects. By this time patients should already get used to regular exercises and diet, so it will be easy for them to gradually reduce to zero phentermine consumption. Remember that no medication, including phentermine, can substitute proper diet and training. Only conjunction of these activities and drug treatment can bring results.

Today phentermine is the most prescribed drug due to its effectiveness, availability and low costs. It is distributed under various brand names such as Ionamin, Adipex-P, Obenix, Fastin, Obephen, Oby-Trim, Oby-Cap, Phentercot, Panshape M Phentride, Pro-Fast SA, Pro-Fast HS, Pro-Fast SR, Zantryl, Teramine. Many of these medications are available online. All these drugs are approved by FDA and produce equal weight loss. Phentermine is available in time-release or immediate release formulas. Immediate release pills get to the blood stream promptly after being taken while time-release capsules release their medication into the body during a long period of time, typically 8 - 12 hours.

Phentermine is a right prescription for carefully examined patients who run considerable medical risk caused by their obesity. It is not recommended to mildly overweight people unless they have diseases worsened by extra body weight. This medication should not be used to perfect appearance. In most cases the drive for "ideal shape" in severely obese patients is absolutely unnecessary. No currently available anti-obesity medication can justify such hopes. Nevertheless, a modest weight loss of 5% - 10% of body weight shows significant improvements in health of patients and also reduces the risk factors for different diseases.

It is substantial to understand that phentermine alone is powerless in the face of obesity. It should be used in combination with exercise program, diet and overall healthy lifestyle. In short term treatment phentermine has been proved to produce significant weight loss and reduction of risks of medical problems. The task now is to maintain normal weight successfully without any drugs for the long term.