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Weight Loss/Maintenance

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LynneSin

(95,337 posts)
Fri Jul 24, 2015, 12:24 PM Jul 2015

Have you considered Qsymia? Here's my thoughts from someone who has used it [View all]

I have been on Qsymia since August 2014. Almost 11 months later I am 95lbs lighter and I have had great success.

I know what some of you are thinking - what a waste, prescription weight loss pills, you'll probably just gain it right back. And you know what, so many people will probably do just that. I hope I am not one of those people.

But I want to know that I have had amazing success and I want to share it with you for those considering it. There were problems in the beginning and I would be happy to answer questions for anyone considering it. My only regret? My doctor pushed me to start this about 6 months before I finally caved in and tried it. I wish I started earlier.

First and foremost please realize this - I have an addiction to junk food and I binge. I love process food and my body could not stop eating if I opened a box of cookies or a bag of chips. I was hungry and I would just keep eating beyond normal capacity. Before the weight loss prescription pills my doctor pushed for me to do the weight loss surgery but for some reason I was dead set against it (my mother was petrified something would go wrong, too many horror stories she's seen on the evening news and daytime talk shows). I considered Qsymia the way a smoker would consider Chantrix - I needed something to help me get over the cravings while I try to learn new eating and exercise habits. So far it's done the trick.

What is Qsymia? It is actually a combination of 2 pills that have been out there on the market for well over a decade - Phentrermine and Topiramate. This made me feel a bit more comfortable that these pills have been well tested, researched and their side effects very well known and yes there were some very weird side affects. Phentremine is part of the Amphentamine family and I learned quickly that I could no longer drink coffee. On the first week of the full low dosage (I started on a 2 week trial half dosage), I was tweaking like a meth head. The fact that the Topiramate can add a bit of anxiety to the mix - was not a good combo. Luckily the dosage was low enough that I could skip a day easily and be ok. Once I took coffee out of the picture things worked fine, that along with taking the Qsymia first thing in the morning helped big time. If I did sleep-in on the weekends I'd skip a day (these were capsules so I couldn't split).

But almost immediately I noticed that the cravings for junk food went away and some foods just started to taste weird to me. But along with that I knew that if I didn't change my habits then I was just getting rid of the weight only for it to come back again sometime in the future. So I used this time to relearn eating. Healthy breakfasts, no fast food, no processed foods nothing with High Fructose Corn Syrup. I read labels like a hawk. More veggies and fruits and less red meat (but not vegetarian I do like my fish and chicken).

Exercising was harder but the last 2-3 months I've kicked that in with some inspirations. I'd find events that I'm attending as reasons to get in shape. I have one in September I'm using to hit 100lbs (at 95lbs lost now). After that I'll find something new for my next goal. The other thing is shopping, I love nice clothes, they make me feel pretty and getting lots of compliments and attention once again when I go out. Even shoe shopping - I'm wearing heels more often (no stilettos - I need a wedge or chunky heel underneath).

The Qsymia does work but not for those just looking to lose a few pounds. It does have a savings card for those without a prescription plan (although mine did cover it). And even though I was paying $50/prescription, the cost of my monthly food spending has gone way down even with me switching to organic/natural foods. So it all works out in the long run.

If you do consider Qsymia a few things. If the doctor starts you off at anything higher than 7.5MG then your doctor is a Quack. After 3 months you will get acclimated to the dosage and need to go up. It's almost a year and I am at 15MG and for a reference 37.5MG is the highest dosage (that's for the Phentramine side of the Qsymia, not sure of the other one). Also have a full physical. My blood pressure was borderline but high blood pressure this might not be your best choice. Today my BP is perfect. So is my cholesterol and other numbers. Also, this isn't for someone looking to lose 20lbs. I had serious weight to lose and for me this was an alternate the surgery. If you are trying to lose 20lbs then this is not for you.

Other questions please send me an IM I'd be happy to answer

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