Adipex And Your Sleep

Phentermine is one of the few weight loss aids available today that actually work. It is an anorectic that significantly suppresses appetite and therefore curbs calorie intake. Adipex or Adipex-P is the popular branded variant of Phentermine. It is available only through a health practitioner’s prescription because it is a drug with much in common with amphetamine. Being a stimulant, Adipex may work up a lot of physical inconveniences especially in the first several days. One side effect to watch out for is insomnia.

How Adipex Affects Sleep

Adipex stimulates the hypothalamus in the brain to release neurotransmitters, specifically dopamine, adrenaline, and norepinephrine, the very group which pushes the body in a “fight-or-flight” mode, ready to confront a stressful situation. In this heightened state, the body is primed for immediate survival action, causing hunger and appetite to be the last things the body wants to think of at the moment. Sleep is another thing the body decides to elude when its stress alert system is kicked in to high gear. Insomnia results as the side effect of the hypothalamic stimulation from Adipex.

Symptoms of Sleep Disruption

Difficulty in falling asleep is not just the only indication that you are suffering from insomnia. You have a sleeping problem if you also suffer from these:

• You find it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep within a healthy period.
• You don’t wake up energized; rather you wake up tired as if you hadn’t had a good night’s rest.
• You wake up too early in the morning.
• You wake up often during the night.
• You have trouble going back to sleep when you should.
  

A Word of Advice

Because Adipex can disrupt sleeping patterns, it is best to take the last dose at least four hours before bedtime. It is also not advisable to finish exercising within two hours before you plan to sleep. Adipex heightens heart rate (part of the “fight or flight” response) so exercising early in the evening will just keep you too revved up for the z’s. Leave at least a five to six hour gap between physical exertions and shut-eye to give the body time to calm down.

If despite these precautions, Adipex still seems to be the culprit of your sleeping problems, consult your doctor about adjusting the dosage. Sleep difficulties not addressed immediately can develop into full-blown insomnia, another health issue to top the weight problem you have. Take care of your body and report any side effect you experience from Adipex with your physician.