Ionamin Diet Pill

Ionamin is the brand name for a prescription diet pill that's generically known as phentermine hydrochloride. Ionamin is an appetite-suppressant that claims to aid in weight loss when taken in conjunction with a calorie-reduced diet plan, exercise and behavior modification. Phentermine also causes the body to release epinephrine or adrenaline, which helps break down fat cells. This pill is intended for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30, or a BMI of 27 or higher, who also have weight-related conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol. Ionamin is not intended for long-term use. According to the FDA, the maximum length of time for taking Ionamin is 12 weeks due to a risk of dependency and the body's ability to become immune to the drug's effects at which time it stops working. Doses are 15 or 30 mg and should be taken at breakfast to avoid trouble sleeping at night.

Manufacturer

Ionamin is sold as a registered brand name by Medeva Pharmaceuticals.

Clinical Studies

The FDA approved phentremine in 1959, but not many studies were conducted on its effectiveness until 1990 when it was paired with fenfluramine to create Phen-Fen. In 1997, Fenfluramine was pulled from shelves because of its association with cardiac valve lesions. However, phentremine is still considered safe by the FDA and has since been tested in combination with other drugs. Phentremine has also been found not to cause lesions. In studies conducted on the effectiveness of phentremine on weight loss, participants lost between 8 to 10 percent of their body weight.

Cautionary Notes

As a prescription drug, Ionamin has side effects, the most common ones being constipation, diarrhea, digestive discomfort, dizziness, headaches, tremors, insomnia, mood swings, impotence, dry mouth and elevated blood pressure. There's a risk of drug dependency with Ionamin, and the prescription should indicate a tapering off of dosages. Suddenly ceasing to take Ionamin may result in withdraw-like symptoms such as depression, fatigue or insomnia. Doctor supervision is highly recommended throughout the course of the prescription plan.