I was diagnosed 13 years ago at age 55. I had been on Phentermine for weight loss and noticed that I could focus and did not suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder in the winter. My provider then agreed to use it off-label. I did well.
Then I had to change providers and the MH folks will not prescribe Phentermine. I have had bad adverse reactions to everything else and now I am on 50 Vyvanse- which is OK but not great. PCP increased to 60 but that did not work. I am frustrated and trying to find a provider that will listen to my experience.
So, is anyone else using Phentermine?
Written by
Mothma
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I had to look it up, because I couldn't remember hearing of phentermine before. But I do remember Fen-Phen being mentioned a lot in years past, and it is part of that combination.
So, I read that it's a central nervous system stimulant that's similar to amphetamine. It makes sense that it could work for you that way, then.
My only ADHD medication experience is worth Adderall XR and with atomoxetine (generic Strattera).
~~~~~
What I read about Phentermine is that it stimulates adrenaline, dopamine and serotonin. The latter is probably a big reason why your Seasonal Affective Disorder was so well controlled on it.
Bupropion is used to treat both ADHD and SAD. Have you and your doctor discussed it as an option? It isn't a stimulant (it's actually classed as an antidepressant), but has increasingly been prescribed to treat ADHD.
~~~~~
I had a thought: could you ask your current doctor to contact your previous doctor about the off-label use of Phentermine to treat ADHD? Doctors might not always listen to their patients very well, but might be more receptive to a fellow doctor.
(I think I need to do something similar, because I know I had an EKG once, but my current doctor says the test results aren't in my chart. I think I need to get the doctor who ordered the test in the first place to send my records to my new doctor. I've had 4 doctors in the last 3 years, and it was the first one who ordered the EKG.)
Thanks- That's not bad idea. So frustrating. I had no side effects and was doing well until 1 PCPC decided i had to change. It has been downhill ever since - almost 4 years now... funny at one point she even said that maybe all the med changes she suggested were not the best idea- then she left the practice.
I am on Methylphenidate and I was also on Guanfacine - but the guanfacine made me too tired and lethargic. Strangely, i was also waking up after 5 hours of sleep every day. So, i stopped taking it.
Now, just on the methylphenidate, I'm doing better but still struggling - so my doctor prescribed atomoxetine but I am afraid to take it. I am worried that it will mess with my sleep and make me more irritable and lethargic again.
Comparing my experience on atomoxetine to what I've heard from others, I think that I'm particularly sensitive to this medication. I only had to take it for a few days to reach the full benefits.
I was on Adderall first, and it only treated half of what atomoxetine does for me.
My untreated ADHD (and presumed SCT) symptoms and traits included:
• Very limited working memory
• Regularly had difficulty maintaining attention
• Easily distracted
• Extremely variable sense of time (5 minutes could feel like an hour, and vice versa)
• Time blindness (unaware of what the time is; very difficult to notice time-related cues; unable to
• Persistent brain fog in two distinct large areas of the brain (front and back)
I'd estimate that I have an 85-90% improvement in these symptoms. The brain fog was only lifted in my forebrain with Adderall, but it's completely lifted on atomoxetine.
~~~~~
Most people have to be on atomoxetine for several weeks or months to reach full benefit that they can experience from it, and many adults have to increase in dosage to 80-100mg to reach their therapeutic level. I'm still in 40mg. (I was on 60mg for 6 months, but it had almost no increase in benefits, and made me moderately nauseous for 5-20 minutes every day. The lower dose doesn't make me nauseous at all, as long as I take it with food.)
~~~~~
But, as they say, "pills don't teach skills". I still struggle with time management and organization, because I wasn't able to develop those skills before my diagnosis (at age 45). I feel like I ought to be able to develop them now, but I'm working against the patterns and habits that I've built up over decades.
So, my brain works much better, and that helps a lot, but it doesn't help with everything.
Thank you so much for replying! Your advice is super helpful. My symptoms are exactly as you describe: very poor working memory, brain fog, easily distracted, very hard time concentrating, time blindness.
I was recently diagnosed (in April) at age 59. I always knew there was something wrong and I have always searched for answers but my symptoms have become much worse in the last few years.
Thank for you advice. Yes, retraining the mind is so important. I am trying to work on that. Learning to use timers and phone reminders for everything. They really help. Trying to take breaks (with timers) while I am on the computer so that I don't go down rabbit holes and waste hours and hours. Trying to remember to take the methylphenidate in the morning and afternoon. And trying to work on motivation and focus! somehow! There are so many things i'd love to do. Maybe I will soon find a way!
I think I will give the atomoxetine a chance. I'll start this weekend!
Terrible advice, once again from everyone's favorite dad. You ask a doctor for Phentermine for ADHD despite its schedule 4 status, they will look at you like you have lost your mind. If you don't believe me, then try it. Having a dad and several family members who are MD's I have a perspective that most don't. I have really cool progressive doctors, but if I asked for Phentermine for ADHD they would draw the line. Getting ADHD medication from a general practitioner is difficult enough. People prescribed the drug for weight loss typically only take it for 3, months at a time.
I’m a bit confused on your comment. I sense sarcasm. Are you saying I’m everyone es favorite dad? I never claimed to know anything about that medication. But I have had doctors not listen to me.
I appreciate your perspective, but not your tone. It is not helpful to me to have you denigrate another person's advice ..offer different advice and that's fine.I know what worked for me for close to 10 years and now I am struggling.
Off label prescribing happens...no two people are the same and frankly my frustration with the scheduling process is that it it slow, stodgy and built with an eye to ultra conservative safety advice..not ever cutting edge.
yes, I use phentermine as a supplement as needed to boost Vvyanse that I take daily. I have the tablets that can be broken in half. If I need phentermine, I take a half tablet usually around 2 pm.
I first took it about 8 years ago for weight loss, and was amazed at my level of focus. I took phentermine for one year. Stopped this and shifted gears on the weight loss for some reason, then was coincidentally diagnosed a few years later at age 50 with ADHD.
I’ve been using phentermine as a supplement to Vyvanse about a year now. No problems but my using phentermine is only twice or so a week. I have not stopped vyvanse and tried using phentermine as a primary stimulant medication. But I still recall my amazement at having previously-unknown (and very significant) focus for 4 - 5 hours each day when using phentermine for weight loss, which is why I asked my psychiatrist to allow me to use this as a supplement. He agreed, but the pharmacist was a bit put off by this addition.
I hope this helps.
The Vyvanse works well enough - and long enough at about 10 hours - that I use phentermine only when I feel an attention focus shift during the day, usually mid-afternoon and when I have a lot of meetings. The phentermine had more of a short-duration effect.
Thank you. The vyvance is OK but not any where near the level of focus and we'll being I got from phentermine.. I am searching for a psychiatrist to have this conversation. The one I saw previously ..before I had to change because of work commuting out of state..is full and not taking more patients...wish me luck!
Being on phentermine for metabolic syndrome in 2017 is actually what pushed me to seriously pursue adhd diagnosis, all the sudden i kept a schedule, i was eating and hydrating. Life was calmer. I think I went undiagnosed for so long because I was a high achiever in school, so no real red flags, and growing up didn't go to doctors much. The dr wouldn't prescribe it any longer, so I pursued an official diagnosis in 2017 hoping to have it prescribed again. My dr at the time tried Vyvanse andthen Strattera, both with no luck, they actually made me feel worse mentally. Gave up on meds for several years, and learned various strategies. Life became unmanageable and overwhelming in 2021, and finally after several rabbit hole searches, decided to pursue other medication options. My primary doc, who has been with me since 2018, suggested i try a stimulant and prescribed ritalin. I had a depressive episode in 2021, and also noticed better focus and improved mood with the anti depressant trintellix. My dr mentioned it's off label for adhd. I didn't want to continue to increase my dosage of trintellix, since at the higher dosages I started to disassociate. We came to the conclusion to try ritalin. And im so glad I did, I wish I had done it sooner. It took about 10 days to find just the right dosage, but my sleep, focus, mood, blood pressure and heart rate have all improved--- like when I was on phentermine, and at a much smaller dose, once a day. Which, apparently some drs are baffled that my heart rate and bp dropped and my insomnia improved. But that was the same results I had with phentermine as well. Sorry it's such a long list, but maybe you have a similar brain chemistry as me, and if so I hope this may help.
Thank you this is very helpful. I was able to schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist in 3 weeks and am hopeful that we can have a thoughtful conversation.
Hi 👋Just a shot in the dark but have you ever tried elvance?
Works amazing for myself as i was also like you and nothing would work,
Or if it did then it would wear off within an hour 😔
Methyl phemedate/Xaggitin, Conserta ect were just none effective to me at all so moved on to elvance and am settled on 50mg in the morning then a 20mg top-up at 3pm if i choose to or feel needed,
Hi! I was wondering how you’re doing now and what you’re taking. I also discovered my ADHD was miraculously better while on phentermine for weight loss many years ago. I didn’t know it was used to treat ADHD until recently. I am now going to go on phentermine again since I want to lose weight and I’m not on any adhd meds. I’m seeing a psychiatrist in a few weeks as well because I’m considering switching to adhd medication if I build a tolerance to phentermine or if it stops working after a few months. Just came to this site to see if anyone else had taken phentermine for adhd. I hope it’s still working for you, or if you’re using something else, that you’re having good results. I’d love an update. Thanks!
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
ADHD medication alternatives?
ADHD professor support group
First time on adhd medication.
Looking for ADHD coaching and mentoring. 
Character flaws or ADHD? 
