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Hydroxycut Diet Pill Vs. Phentermine
Hydroxycut and phentermine are two of the weight loss products on the market 1. Hydroxycut can be purchased at many drug stores and retail outlets, while phentermine can only be legally obtained with a prescription from your doctor 1. Before taking any type of weight loss medication, make sure to check with your doctor so he can examine the ingredients and give you special instructions.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Phentermine
Phentermine is a prescription medication that stimulates the central nervous system to help suppress your appetite, according to Drugs.com 12. It is typically prescribed to people who are obese and are at-risk with conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. This medication has the potential to affect your normal reactions, so it is not recommended to take it before driving a vehicle or other types of heavy machinery. You should also avoid combining phentermine with other types of diet pills, as doing so may lead to pulmonary hypertension, a rare lug disorder that is often fatal 1.
Hydroxycut
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Hydroxycut is an over-the-counter medication that purportedly helps burn fat, suppress the appetite and aid in weight loss when combined with a diet and exercise routine. According to the official Hydroxycut website, a 12-week clinical study was performed using a placebo-controlled, double blind process. Subjects given Hydroxycut lost nearly 21 pounds as compared to 1.7 pounds for those given the placebo. It is vital to speak with your doctor before taking Hydroxycut, as it has a variety of potentially serious side effects 3. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned against taking Hydroxycut products after receiving reports of elevated levels of liver enzymes, jaundice and other serious health conditions. In response, Iovate, the makers of Hydroxycut voluntarily pulled the products from the market. Hydroxycut was reformulated and put back on sale, although the new formula was not tested by the FDA.
- Hydroxycut is an over-the-counter medication that purportedly helps burn fat, suppress the appetite and aid in weight loss when combined with a diet and exercise routine.
- Subjects given Hydroxycut lost nearly 21 pounds as compared to 1.7 pounds for those given the placebo.
Comparison
Both phentermine and Hydroxycut are designed to help you eat less, and both require the medication to be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise 1. The biggest difference between the two is that phentermine has been approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, while Hydroxycut, although allowed to be sold, is not recommended by the FDA 1.
Considerations
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Because of the side effects that come with taking phentermine and Hydroxycut, your doctor should be notified before you take either medication 123. In addition to the potentially serious side effects, phentermine may also cause:
- a strange taste in your mouth
- upset stomach
- constipation
- sleeplessness
- dry mouth
- headache
- dizziness 12
Potential side effects of Hydroxycut include nausea, itching, vomiting, abdominal pain and fatigue 3.
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References
- Drugs.com: Phentermine
- Drugs.com: Phentermine Side Effects
- Monheit Law: Hydroxycut Side Effects
- Food and Drug Administration. Liver Toxicity Following Consumption of Dietary Supplement. Hydroxycut, Health Hazard Evaluation Board, 2009.
- Hammond DA, Thano E, Bohnenberger KA, et al. Ventricular Tachycardia Precipitated by the Use of the Diet Supplement Hydroxycut Gummies. Hosp Pharm. 2015;50(7):615-8. doi:10.1310/hpj5007-615
- Cvetanovich GL, Ramakrishnan P, Klein JP, Rao VR, Ropper AH. Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome in a patient taking citalopram and Hydroxycut: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2011;5:548. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-5-548
- Carol ML. Hydroxycut weight loss dietary supplements: a contributing factor in the development of exertional rhabdomyolysis in three U.S. Army soldiers. Mil Med. 2013;178(9):e1039-42. doi:10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00133
- Tse-Ling Fong MD et al. Hepatotoxicity Due to Hydroxycut: A Case Series, The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2010. DOI: 10.1038/ajg.2010.5.
Writer Bio
Derek Buckner has been writing professionally since 2005, specializing in diet, nutrition and general health. He has been published in "Today's Dietitian," "Food Essentials" and "Eating Well Magazine," among others. Buckner is a registered dietitian and holds a Bachelor of Science in nutrition and food science from Drexel University.