[cheryl]

I was wandering if anyone could tell me if taking lexapro and phentermine together would slow down the weight loss process. Sure dont want that to happen.

[blondefrost]

HI cheryl, I would tell you to ask top-dawg but he hasn't been around for a couple of days. Did you try calling your pharmacist? Maybe they could tell you the possible interactions. When I looked up lexapro on yahoo!health it didn't say anything about any interaction with diet meds but that doesn't mean there couldn't be one. Good luck!

[blondefrost]

Cheryl I just found this at a drug interaction website. Check with you pharmacist immediately in case this is correct.

You have searched for drug interactions between the following drugs: Lexapro, phentermine hydrochloride

Please note: only generic drug names are displayed.

Drug-Drug Interactions

phentermine and escitalopram (major Drug-Drug)
Description:

GENERALLY AVOID:
Several case reports suggest that patients treated with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) may exhibit an increased sensitivity to sympathomimetic agents. The mechanism of interaction is unclear. The reaction has been reported when fluoxetine was used concomitantly with phentermine, amphetamine, or phenylpropanolamine. Additionally, some sympathomimetic agents (e.g., amphetamines) may possess serotonergic activity and should generally not be administered with SRIs because of the additive risk of serotonin syndrome, which is a rare but serious and potentially fatal condition thought to result from hyperstimulation of brainstem 5-HT1A receptors. The interaction occurred in a patient treated with dexamphetamine approximately 2 weeks after the addition of venlafaxine. The medications were discontinued and the patient was given cyproheptadine for suspected serotonin syndrome, whereupon symptoms promptly resolved. A second episode occurred when dexamphetamine was subsequently resumed and citalopram added. The patient improved following cessation of citalopram on his own, and residual symptoms were successfully treated with cyproheptadine.

MANAGEMENT:
In general, amphetamines should not be combined with serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Close monitoring for enhanced sympathomimetic effects is recommended if these agents must be used together. Patients should also be monitored for signs and symptoms of excessive serotonergic activity such as CNS irritability, altered consciousness, confusion, myoclonus, ataxia, abdominal cramping, hyperpyrexia, shivering, pupillary dilation, diaphoresis, hypertension, and tachycardia.

[top-dawg]

Cheryl, Please be sure to check your messages. I sent you a pm in re; Question, lexapro...Phentermine and Lexapro interact quite badly together. Phen and any S.R.I.s should not be taken together. #-o dawg

[cheryl]

DAWG, :razz: THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR RESPONSE TO MY QUESTION.
i HAVE STOPPED THE LEXAPRO COMPLETELY. i STOPPED AS SOON AS i RECIEVED YOUR ADVICE. i HAVE BEEN HAVING SEVERE DIZZINESS,(NAUSEA WITH DIZZINESS) PALPITATIONS LIKE CRAZY, ON A DAILY BASIS FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK. I HAD CERVICAL FUSION 2 YEARS AGO, SO I FEEL DIZZINESS COULD BE DUE TO THAT , JUST DONT KNOW. DID GO TO DOC, AND SHE THOUGHT IT COULD BE INNER EAR, NOT SO SURE ABOUT THAT THOUGH. GOOD NEWS IS THAT I HAVE LOST 36 POUNDS NOW AND ONLY HAVE 4 MORE TO NEW GOAL WT. MAY KEEP GOING IF I CAN. HOW SHOULD I WEAN MYSELF OFF THE PHENTERMINE? I DONT WANT TO MAKE MY HEART MORE IRRITABLE BY STOPPING AT ONCE, OR SHOULD I? WILL IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? THANK YOU AGAIN AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU AGAIN. AND TOP- DAWG I DID GET YOUR LAST MESSAGES, I HAVE JUST BEEN SO BUSY I COULDNT POST A MESSAGE IN REPLY UNTILL NOW.

[top-dawg]

Hi Cheryl, If you wanted to just stop the phen completely w/o doing it gradually you can, however, you will have the side effects that go along with doing that. They are, for the most part, some nausea, headaches and feeling exhausted. If you opt for weaning off of it it's quite simple. Immediately go to every other day whatever your dosage was. Do that for roughly a week. Then you can go to two per week, and one the following week and you are done. If you were taking the 37.5 tablets, you can actually do it much faster. Let me know, and if so, you can wean off it in about ten days w/o suffering any effects. Good Luck, dawg

[cheryl]

thank you for your quick responce. i appreciate your advice and i will gradually wean off. i did set a new goal for another extra 5 pounds.

[top-dawg]

No problem, Cheryl. I wish you luck, and if you have any other questions or concerns, please let me know. dawg