Phentermine and Pregnancy

When a healthy woman is pregnant, she is already faced with a 3%-5% chance of delivering a baby with some abnormality. Taking drugs could significantly alter the risks to even greater proportions. That is why physicians take great care when prescribing medications to pregnant women.

Phentermine’s effects have never been studied on pregnant women or animals. With the absence of much information it is best to err on the side of caution and use a little common sense.

How Safe Is Phentermine for Pregnant Women?

When pregnant, a woman should not, as much as possible, take any drugs. A physician must determine what it is you can take and if it is necessary that you do so. In the case of a weight loss drug like Phentermine, it is unnecessary for a pregnant woman to take as it does not in any case promote the health of the unborn child nor of its mother.

Phentermine is a close chemical relative of amphetamines, commonly known as “speed,” “ecstasy,” or “shabu.” Because of its habit-forming properties, it has been classed by the FDA as a controlled substance.

Using amphetamines while pregnant can tremendously increase the risk of abnormalities in the unborn child, some of which are:

• Cleft lip and palate
• Delayed or impaired motor development
• Defects on the limbs
• Smaller head size
• Eye or sight problems
• Cardiac problems
• Bleeding in the brain
  

Complications in pregnancy could also result as:

• Premature childbirth
• Bleeding from the placenta
• Reduced growth of the baby
• Miscarriage
• Stillbirth
  

Although little is known of the effects of Phentermine on the fetus, there have been some reports of stillbirths and lung problems related to its use.

Since Phentermine is simply a weight loss drug, it would behoove a pregnant woman to put vanity on hold and stop taking Phentermine for the sake of her child. Not only is it totally unnecessary, it is dangerous to pregnancy. If you suspect you are pregnant but are taking Phentermine, consult with your doctor immediately.

Phentermine and Post Childbirth:

It is clearly best to stay away from Phentermine and any other weight loss drug from your pregnancy up to your breastfeeding years. Although little is known about the short-term effects of Phentermine on infants, almost nothing is known about the long-term effects. Since Phentermine is chemically related to amphetamines, we can infer that Phentermine may cause the same developmental effects such as impaired growth, behavioural and learning difficulties, obesity, and diabetes later on.

The best way to lose your weight postpartum is through good old healthy diet and exercise. This is really the only way in the end as Phentermine is basically only a short-term weight loss aid.