Being overweight or obese can increase your health risks like hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. That’s why overweight/obese people are advised to follow a proper weight loss program. Losing weight is not so easy. Despite your best efforts in dieting and exercise, you will have to endure many struggles to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. Doctors may prescribe weight-loss drugs with a nutritious diet, heightened physical activity levels, and positive lifestyle modifications to aid in weight loss.
Can you take Phentermine and Semaglutide together? Phentermine and Semaglutide are popular, FDA-approved weight-loss goals-supporting medications available at pharmacies with different working mechanisms. Although both of these drugs have the same purpose, you might wonder what if the two drugs were taken together. Will there be unwanted interactions or would these drugs together prove to be safe and effective?
Phentermine Vs Semaglutide:
To learn about both drugs, here we have listed the key factors that make both drugs different from one another:
- Pharmacological class: Phentermine is an anorectic-appetite suppressant whereas Semaglutide belongs to the drug class GLP (glucagon-like peptide)-1 receptor agonist.
- The working mechanism: Phentermine is a sympathomimetic amine that treats obesity by targeting the patient’s central nervous system. It works by stimulating the release of norepinephrine and dopamine—the neurotransmitters responsible for curbing food cravings and increasing the feeling of fullness. Thus, the patient can eat a low-calorie diet and ultimately experience weight loss. On the other hand, Semaglutide mimics the activity of GLP-1, a hormone naturally released by the intestines in response to intake of food. Just like GLP-1, it helps regulate the appetite of the patient by signaling to the brain that the stomach is full and it’s time to stop eating. Semaglutide goes and binds to GLP-1 receptors in the brain and gastrointestinal tract to delay gastric emptying, suppress appetite or reduce food intake, and enhance satiety feeling.
- Sold under brand names: Phentermine is an active ingredient for brand drugs like Suprenza, Adipex-P, and Lomaira as well as a combination ingredient with Topiramate in a brand drug named Qsymia. On the other hand, Semaglutide is commonly sold in pill form under the brand name Rybelsus and in injectable form under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy.
- Longevity of the term of usage: Phentermine is designed for only 12 weeks of use. Over time, the patient can develop tolerance to it and make it less effective. On the flip side, Semaglutide is meant for long-term usage and there is a chance of weight gain on stopping its intake.
- FDA-cleared indications and the drug’s contraindications: Phentermine is FDA-approved for usage by overweight or obese people having weight-related health issues like hypertension and cholesterol. It is contraindicated in patients with medical records of hyperthyroidism, glaucoma, or cardiovascular disease.
Can you take Phentermine and Semaglutide together?
Yes, but only proceed with strict medical supervision. Phentermine and Semaglutide can be taken separately or together for weight management in people who fairly or do not respond to a healthy diet and exercise alone. Phentermine is not reported on the Semaglutide label as a potential drug interaction but its label has the caution mentioned for combining Phentermine with Semaglutide present in Ozempic and Rybelsus. The label of Phentermine also mentions the safe use of Phentermine with Semaglutide used for losing weight.
If you want to take both medications together to lose weight significantly, you should bring this to the notice of your healthcare provider to ensure that it’s safe and best suited for your situation. A healthcare provider will suggest taking Phentermine and Semaglutide together only after considering your general health status, your medical history, the potential side effects associated with the drugs, and the potential drug interactions with the medications that you are taking.
Yes. In recent times, overweight or obese people have been planning their weight loss with a combination of weight-loss medications as this way considerable, optimal weight loss is achievable. However, before starting taking Phentermine and Semaglutide together, you need to ask your healthcare provider the question “Can you take Phentermine and Semaglutide together for weight loss?” Consulting an expert can help check one’s current health status, check medical history, check for the benefits and risks of taking Phentermine and Semaglutide together, and then based on all these parameters they can share the weight loss plan.
Benefits of Taking Both Phentermine and Semaglutide:
Both Phentermine and Semaglutide complement one another. Their controlled action can control food cravings and reduce hunger as well as calorie intake, thereby reducing weight.
The combination intake of Phentermine and Semaglutide can be tailored to the patient’s medical needs and records. Healthcare providers can provide a personalized treatment plan by adjusting the doses of both drugs for optimal outcomes with minimal side effects.
Risks of Taking Both Phentermine and Semaglutide:
The effects of combining Phentermine and Semaglutide have not been studied in clinical trials. This means that even after getting a YES for “Can you take Phentermine and Semaglutide together?”, you still would face certain side effects.
The potential risks of taking Phentermine and Semaglutide together could be minor or adverse and vary from one patient to another:
- Side effects: Some commonly reported side effects of taking Phentermine and Semaglutude include headache, unpleasant taste, dry mouth, drowsiness, nausea, nervousness, fatigue, diarrhea/constipation, thirst, abdominal pain, and trouble sleeping. Serious side effects may include vision changes, an allergic reaction, acute pancreatitis, kidney or gallbladder issues, cardiac issues, and drug abuse.
- Drug and substance interactions: Both Phentermine and Semaglutide can lead to harmful interactions with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, weight loss stimulants like naltrexone or bupropion, alcohol, or adrenergic neuron-blocking drugs.
- Risk groups: Conditions when Phentermine and Semaglutide are not recommended together or even separately are type-2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney or gallbladder issues, pancreatitis, glaucoma, hyperthyroidism, and medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia. [2, 3]
FAQs:
Is Phentermine a Semaglutide?
No, both are separate weight-loss drugs sold under different brand names and have different working mechanisms.
Is Semaglutide better than Phentermine?
Maybe. Semaglutide may produce significant weight loss as it is taken for the long term. But which drug proves to be better depends on the patient’s response to the drug, current health, dosage recommended, and adherence to diet and exercise regime.
Is Phentermine a controlled substance?
Phentermine sold under the brand name Adipex-P is a controlled substance as the patient taking it can misuse it and develop a drug dependence.
Does Semaglutide need to be refrigerated?
Unused injectable versions of semaglutide should be stored in a refrigerator as the liquid medicine is susceptible to degradation and bacterial growth when kept at room temperature until it’s used. Pills form does not need to be refrigerated.
Is it safe to take Semaglutide and Phentermine together?
Can you take phentermine and semaglutide together? Taking these medicines together has no clear contraindications, but they affect appetite and the cardiovascular system. You can learn about the safety of taking Semaglutide and Phentermine together by talking to your healthcare provider.
