How long can you take qsymia

Many doctors prescribe phentermine, on its own, to patients for more than 12 weeks. And anecdotal reports from many of my colleagues suggested that it was helpful for many patients long-term.

Phentermine is available as an inexpensive generic medication, but concerns have been raised about addiction and, because of how it acts, cardiovascular side effects.

We clearly needed more research to understand the benefits and risk of longer-term phentermine use. We studied nearly 14, phentermine users, 8 in 10 of whom were women. Obesity starts at a BMI of Three in 10 of them were prescribed phentermine for more than 3 months.

At 6 months, a year, and 2 years after starting phentermine, weight loss was clinically significantly greater among people who used the medication longer-term more than a year or medium-term more than days but less than a year than in people who used it for only 3 months.

Tell your healthcare provider if you experience, while at rest, a racing or pounding feeling in your chest lasting several minutes when taking Qsymia.

Suicidal thoughts or actions. Topiramate, an ingredient in Qsymia, may cause you to have suicidal thoughts or actions. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying; attempts to commit suicide; new or worse depression; new or worse anxiety; feeling agitated or restless; panic attacks; trouble sleeping insomnia ; new or worse irritability; acting aggressive, being angry, or violent; acting on dangerous impulses; an extreme increase in activity or talking mania ; other unusual changes in behavior or mood.

Serious eye problems, which include any sudden decrease in vision, with or without eye pain and redness or a blockage of fluid in the eye causing increased pressure in the eye secondary angle closure glaucoma. These problems can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new eye symptoms.

Numbness or tingling in the hands, arms, feet, or face paraesthesia ; dizziness; changes in the way foods taste or loss of taste dysgeusia ; trouble sleeping insomnia ; constipation; and dry mouth.

Mood changes and trouble sleeping. Qsymia may cause depression or mood problems, and trouble sleeping. Tell your healthcare provider if symptoms occur. Concentration, memory, and speech difficulties. Qsymia may affect how you think and cause confusion, problems with concentration, attention, memory or speech.

Increases of acid in bloodstream metabolic acidosis. If left untreated, metabolic acidosis can cause brittle or soft bones osteoporosis, osteomalacia, osteopenia , kidney stones, can slow the rate of growth in children, and may possibly harm your baby if you are pregnant. Metabolic acidosis can happen with or without symptoms. Sometimes people with metabolic acidosis will: feel tired, not feel hungry loss of appetite , feel changes in heartbeat, or have trouble thinking clearly.

Your healthcare provider should do a blood test to measure the level of acid in your blood before and during your treatment with Qsymia. Low blood sugar hypoglycemia in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus who also take medicines used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. Weight loss can cause low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus who also take medicines used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus such as insulin or sulfonylureas. You should check your blood sugar before you start taking Qsymia and while you take Qsymia.

High blood pressure medicines. If you are taking medicines for your blood pressure, your doctor may need to adjust these medicines while taking Qsymia. The use of prescription sleep aids, anxiety medicines, or drinking alcohol with Qsymia may cause an increase in CNS symptoms such as dizziness and light-headedness. Do not drink alcohol with Qsymia. Possible seizures if you stop taking Qsymia too fast. Seizures may happen in people who may or may not have had seizures in the past if you stop Qsymia too fast.

Your healthcare provider will tell you how to stop taking Qsymia slowly. Kidney stones. Drink plenty of fluids when taking Qsymia to help decrease your chances of getting kidney stones. Decreased sweating and increased body temperature fever. People should be watched for signs of decreased sweating and fever, especially in hot temperatures.

Some people may need to be hospitalized for this condition. Still, more studies are needed to conclude whether new users could be at a greater risk. Patients are advised to receive regular heart-rate monitoring while on Qsymia. Qsymia is not recommended in people with cardiac issues or cerebrovascular disease. If you take medications for diabetes, high blood pressure , or anxiety, your doctor may need to adjust your dosage. With any weight loss medication, it is crucial to tailor usage to individual health conditions and current status and weigh the pros and cons.

Other Qsymia concerns include:. If you're considering taking Qsymia, it's important be aware of its potential side effects. These side effects are less common but can be more serious. Contact your doctor if you experience any of these, or if you have a common side effect that is bothersome or does not go away.

It's a good idea to read through the complete drug information guide provided by your doctor or pharmacist before you begin taking Qsymia. The total price of Qsymia depends on the pharmacy and a few other factors. Your insurance company may pay partially or in full for the medication.

Since plans vary and change, check with your carrier to see if this drug is covered on your current plan. The makers of Qsymia also offer coupons to help you manage the cost of the medication if insurance doesn't cover it.

If you're a person who can get pregnant, be sure to factor in the cost of a monthly pregnancy test when tallying the total cost. You can also talk to your doctor about a plan for having testing done as part of your office visits. If you choose to invest in Qsymia, be aware that only certain pharmacies may dispense the drug. As part of an agreement with the FDA, drugmaker Vivus agreed to sell the medication only through pharmacies that take part in an educational program that ensures patients receive risk reduction information along with their medication.

If you meet the BMI criteria and have tried other weight loss methods without success, Qsymia may be able to help. If you're considering trying to conceive in the future, use caution before starting Qsymia. If you are on medications for other health conditions, be mindful of possible interactions and discuss them with your healthcare team. Adjust your dosages per your doctor's recommendations, and stay up-to-date on follow-up visits to monitor your body's response to Qsymia.

Qsymia works best when combined with a reduced-calorie diet. Consume a diet consisting of plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. Limit saturated fats and added sweeteners. You should take Qsymia for as long as your healthcare provider has prescribed.

If you experience side effects, be sure to speak to your doctor to see if stopping the medication is best. Do not stop taking the medication on your own without consulting your doctor, as this can cause adverse side effects. Qsymia has not been studied in patients with recent or unstable cardiac or cerebrovascular disease and therefore use is not recommended.

Patients should inform healthcare providers of palpitations or feelings of a racing heartbeat while at rest during Qsymia treatment. For patients who experience a sustained increase in resting heart rate while taking Qsymia, the dose should be reduced or Qsymia discontinued. Topiramate, a component of Qsymia, increases the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking these drugs for any indication.

Discontinue Qsymia in patients who experience suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Qsymia is not recommended in patients with a history of suicidal attempts or active suicidal ideation. Acute angle closure glaucoma has been reported in patients treated with topiramate, a component of Qsymia. Symptoms typically occur within 1 month of initiating treatment with topiramate but may occur at any time during therapy.

The primary treatment to reverse symptoms is immediate discontinuation of Qsymia. Elevated intraocular pressure of any etiology, if left untreated, can lead to serious adverse events including permanent loss of vision. Qsymia can cause mood disorders, including depression and anxiety, as well as insomnia. Patients with a history of depression may be at increased risk.

For clinically significant or persistent symptoms consider dose reduction or withdrawal of Qsymia. Qsymia can cause cognitive dysfunction e. Since Qsymia has the potential to impair cognitive function, patients should be cautioned about operating hazardous machinery, including automobiles. Hyperchloremic, non-anion gap, metabolic acidosis has been reported in patients treated with Qsymia. Measurement of electrolytes including serum bicarbonate prior to starting Qsymia and during Qsymia treatment is recommended.

If metabolic acidosis develops and persists, consideration should be given to reducing the dose or discontinuing Qsymia. Qsymia can cause an increase in serum creatinine that reflects a decrease in renal function glomerular filtration rate. In phase 3 trials, peak increases in serum creatinine were observed after 4 to 8 weeks of treatment. On average, serum creatinine gradually declined but remained elevated over baseline creatinine values.