Phentermine and Pregnancy
The
information below will help you determine if your prenatal exposure
to Phentermine represents anincreased fetal risk. With every pregnancy,
all women have a 3 to 5 percent chance to have a baby with a birth defect.
Phentermine is a
medication used as an appetite suppressant to treat obesity.Women are
sometimes prescribed medications such as Phentermine to assistthem in
losing weight. Phentermine stimulates the central nervous system. It
is also known as Adipex, Fastin, Ionamin, and Zantryl.
Is Phentermine the
same as Fen-Phen? No. Fen-Phen was a medication, made of phentermine
and fenfluramine, prescribed to help people lose weight. Fenfluramine
was taken off of the market in September 1997 because of the concern
that it caused heart problems when used. Since then, Fen-Phenhas been
unavailable.
Is it safe to lose
weight while I’m pregnant? Some medical complications are more
likely in pregnancy if you are significantly overweight, including gestational
diabetes(diabetes that develops and lasts only during pregnancy) and
high blood pressure. Your health care provider can discuss recommendations
regarding weight gain and loss during pregnancy, but in general, it
is not recommended that you lose weight during pregnancy.
Some studies suggest
weight loss during the first trimester of a pregnancy can increase the
risk for having a baby who doesn’t weigh as much as it should,
or in some cases, a baby with a neural tube defect. Neural tube defects,
such as spina bifida, occur when the baby’s spine does not close
properly.
Can taking Phentermine
make it harder forme to get pregnant?There is no information about whetherPhentermine
makes it more difficult forwomen to become pregnant.I took Phentermine
for several months butstopped three months ago. I just found outI’m
two months pregnant. Will my baby beok?Your baby was not actually exposed
tothe Phentermine that you took. Although therate at which Phentermine
is broken down inthe body varies from person to person, mostof the Phentermine
should be gone from aperson's body four to five days after takingthe
last dose. Phentermine is well absorbed inthe body, and the body gets
rid of themedication easily. Therefore, the Phenterminewould have been
gone from your body beforeyou became pregnant
