Addiction to Drugs - Phentermine

Name: Azure Gouge
Topic: Addiction to Drugs: Phentermine
Central Idea: Phentermine is a stimulant that is similar to amphetamine that affects the central nervous system; it is usually subscribed to treat obesity.
Introduction
I. How far would you go to be skinny? Would you risk life altering changes just to have the perfect body? Would you risk hurting your friends and family just to be skinny? Would it really be worth it to you?
II. I want to discuss the diet pill, “Phentermine”. It is known to be “The Miracle Diet Pill”, and it may in fact help you lose weight but the things it does to you in the process of you losing weight is not worth it. I took it three years ago, and it changed everything about me, from the way I thought about things to my personality. I want you to be aware of the horrible side effects it has, the things it does mentally and health wise to you and your body, then ask is it really worth all that just to lost weight?
Body
I. What is Phentermine? How does it work?
A. Phentermine’s main purpose is to stimulate the release of brain chemicals that reduce the sensations of hunger, making you feel like you don’t need to eat much to be full, if any at all.
B. This drug is meant to be used to help you get started on your diet and exercising. You are not supposed to take it for prolonged periods of time; you are only supposed to take it up to 12 weeks.
C. Phentermine is considered a Schedule IV drug, which classifies it as being a drug that is addicting as well as abused.
D. A report of the UN International Narcotics Control Board published last year warned that phentermine is one of the most commonly abused prescription drugs in the world.
E. Transition: Now that I have explained what Phentermine is and now it works, I want to explain the more common side effects that most people get, and then the ones you have to worry about if you do experience them.
II. Side Effects
A. Not everyone that takes Phentermine will experience the same side effects, it affects everyone differently. Some people can take this medication and not experience any side effects at all. The most common side effects are:
· Dry mouth
· Hyperactivity
· Restlessness
· Dizziness
· Unusual happy feeling (euphoria)
· Unusual unpleasant feeling (dysphoria)
· Headache
· Unpleasant taste
· Bowel Problems
B. Some side effects with Phentermine are very serious, and you should contact your doctor if you ever experience any side effect such as:
· Difficulty breathing
· Chest pain
· Fatigue or weakness
· Dizziness or fainting
· Ankle or leg swelling
· Blue lips or skin
· More outgoing or aggressive behavior than normal
· Strange behavior
· Hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not really there)
· Feelings of a rapidly or forcefully beating heart (known as heart palpitations)
· A desire or need to take phentermine more frequently (or at a higher dose) than prescribed.
· Signs of an allergic reaction, including unexplained rash, hives, itching, unexplained swelling, wheezing, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.
· High blood pressure (hypertension)
C. Transition: Now that I have explained the more common side effects and the serious side effects, I want to explain who cannot take Phentermine due to medical conditions.
III. Warning – Do not take Phentermine
A. Phentermine cannot be used by just anyone, some people who suffer from certain diseases or are in certain conditions are not allowed to take the pill. People who have these conditions:
· History of heart disease (coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems, congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension)
· Severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure
· Overactive thyroid
· Glaucoma
· If you are pregnant or breast-feeding
· If you are in an agitated state
· If you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse
· mental/mood problems (e.g., severe anxiety, bipolar disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia) Taking this medication while having any of these conditions can result in injury or become fatal.
B. If you are taking any other diet medications, such as Fenfluramine (phen-fen) or Dexfenfluramine (Redux) you cannot take Phentermine due to the fact it can cause a rare fatal lung disease called Pulmonary Hypertension
C. This medication can cause withdrawal reactions if it has been used regularly for a long period of time or in high doses. Even people who take Phentermine for the right reasons have found their selves addicted to the drug, Phentermine Addiction can be life threatening. Dependence happens quickly and withdrawal symptoms are severe, not only does it have physical implications but it has psychological implications as well.
D. Transition: Now that I have explained who should not take Phentermine and the addiction risks. I want to explain my personal experience with Phentermine. Conclusion
I. In conclusion I want everyone to realize that there is no quick fix or rapid weight loss solution that is actually safe. We are in a time that everything everywhere tells us that in order for us to actually be successful, you must be thin. The persuasion presented by these drugs is hard to deny, especially with them being so easy to get.
II. The best way to lose weight is not to cut corners or try to find the fastest way to do it, but to develop a healthy diet and exercise, in the end you will feel so much better about yourself, because you will have accomplished it alone and not with the aid of a pill that could destroy your life.
III. End with my own personal experience. “Three years ago, after I had my daughter I got a prescription to take Phentermine. It was the worse decision of my life, it changed my personality, and it was like I no longer had the ability to see things reasonably. I done mean things to my friends and family and hurt them in many ways, and even though I knew it was wrong I just didn’t care. I got to the point where I couldn’t stand being around my daughter, because I couldn’t deal with her crying. When I would begin to run out, I would freak out and if I didn’t have the money to buy them, I would take money out of my daughter’s bank account I had started when she was born. I didn’t care about anything as long as I had those pills. After a couple of months of taking them, I started shaking very badly and I just looked over thinking it was nothing, couple weeks later, I started feeling my insides shaking and I went to the doctor. I had developed Tremors and when I told the doctor what I had been taking he ordered me to stop taking them right then and there. I also found out that they were responsible for my psychosis behavior as well. Even though I had lost up to 30 lbs, it was not worth hurting my family and missing out on the first 4 months of my daughter’s life because I couldn’t deal with her. Phentermine is not worth what it does to you or your life. I have not taken one in since then, and I never plan on taking another one again.”