Should you take Duromine to lose weight? Duromine – a popular appetite suppressant works by affecting an area of the brain that controls your appetite making you feel less hungry. Here is what you need to know about taking the pill.
When Siphesihle Dyonta (30) from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape first heard about Duromine, she thought it would be a quick fix, but she found out it was not. She says that the side effects are “really bad”. After taking it she says she started getting headaches, dry mouth and palpitations.
“I am still as lazy as I used to be. I wish there was a faster way than this suffering.”
A 29-year-old from Kimberley who asked to be anonymous says she first heard about the fat-busting drug from her sister. She started taking the pill in 2017 after seeing a doctor, who gave her a prescription.
“When I started taking Duromine is when I started doing my research. I never did it before; I was desperate to shed some kilos,” she says.
Anonymous tells Health For Mzansi that she believes she lost about 10 kgs in six months. She says that she was satisfied with the results, but she became anxious and then stopped taking them.
“Duromine makes you edgy and it wasn’t good for me because I started to get panic attacks.”
No such thing as quick fix
According to Medical News Today, Duromine contains the active ingredient phentermine. Phentermine is combined with a resin which slowly releases the phentermine so the effect of Duromine lasts all day.
Duromine is used to reduce the body weight and is often prescribed to obese or overweight patients.
Dyonta believes that there is no such thing as a quick fix or shortcut to weight loss. She says that if she was disciplined enough on what she eats, exercise and cut out sugar, she would have doubled the weight she lost.
“I am losing weight, although I have not been on the scale yet. My clothes fit, and my confidence is starting to come back.”
Health For Mzansi reader, Siphesihle Dyonta
Anonymous, however, tells us that there was a point where she had to take antidepressants so she could continue with Duromine.
“A dietitian recently told me that if you have some sort of anxiety disorder, Duromine is known to make your symptoms worse. I stopped taking them when I started to get panic attacks very frequently.”
Should you use Duromine?
Dr Manduleli Bikitsha, a doctor from Khayelitsha, says that Duromine requires self-discipline. Like any other pill, Duromine has side effects, and they are even worse “because they work through the brain”.
“Going for a quick fix is not good, it does more harm than good. Especially for people who do not follow the rules.”
Vegetables, fruits and white meat are the best foods to choose, even if you are not dieting, because they are low in saturated fat, salt and sugar he explains.
“Fruits and vegetables are part of a balanced diet that can help you lose weight, prevent weight gain and control some diseases in the human body.”
He says that people need to understand that sometimes being overweight has nothing to do with eating the wrong foods and has everything to do with genetics.
Bikitsha believes the weight lost from taking Duromine can come back after some time.
“Duromine only reduces the fats that people put on through food consumption, alcohol and an unhealthy lifestyle, not genetics. So, people need to look at this very carefully.”
General practitioner, Dr Manduleli Bikitsha
What are the dangers?
Duromine is an appetite suppressant says Bikitsha. “People who have used it can testify that it even causes insomnia, dry mouth, headaches, reduces sexual appetite in men, it can even cause seizures.”
Bikitsha says that before taking any medication, it is advisable to consult a doctor to determine whether or not the treatment is safe.
He says that people suffering from depression should not take it because one of the side effects of phentermine is that it disrupts the heart rate, blood sugar levels, mood and digestive system.
“Some of the best things to do, to make it work are to follow the doctor’s instructions, such as drinking enough water, exercising, eating a balanced diet, not taking alcohol or drugs while taking Duromine, and seeing a doctor before taking Duromine.”
True beauty is skin deep, says Bikitsha.
“People need to work on their psychology. That is, if you have a bigger body, you should just dress smartly. The feeling of elegance compensates for the sad attitude of being big and overweight. In this way, you compensate for a weakness to boost your self-confidence.”
