Can Obese Children Take Phentermine?

Phentermine is known to offer side effects to people who are using it. However, with its effectiveness in promoting weight loss, more often than not, the benefits turn out to be more than the risks that the drug can offer. The question, though, is whether obese children should take advantage of Phentermine or not. Can obese children take Phentermine or is this drug something that can only benefit the older obese population?

Phentermine and Obesity

Phentermine is a drug that has been approved to treat obesity since 1959. It works to suppress the appetite and increase metabolism, which make this drug possible to help in effectively losing weight.

Though the drug is very much helpful in treating obesity, there are side effects that may be experienced when taking this drug. This includes rapid heartbeat, restlessness, increased blood pressure, constipation, sexual dysfunction, dry mouth, and a lot more.

The Risks of Phentermine in Children

Diet pills, in general, are not designed for the use of children. Phentermine, for one, bears the warning of being not proper to be taken by children. Since Phentermine acts as an appetite suppressant, it can bring a different impact to the younger population. If adults struggle with the results of appetite loss, there are more chances that children will find it more difficult to win over this drug.

If the appetite of children is hindered by a diet pill they will not be able to get the nutrition that they need for proper growth. As a result, even if the drug helps in dropping their weight, their health will be at risk. So, can obese children take Phentermine? In some cases, the answer is yes. However, most of the time, Phentermine is not advisable to be taken by children. Rather, they must be given an alternative in treating their obesity problems.

Studies of Phentermine Use in Children

There are certain studies that are made in terms of the effectiveness of Phentermine in obese children. For one, it is known that this drug can give a significant weight loss to children if taken every day even without diet or exercise. In fact, the recorded weight loss is usually 6.7 kilograms in a short term only.

Though the effectiveness of the drug is already identified in children, there are no studies yet linking to the safety of this drug to them. This is especially true for the side effects of the long term use of Phentermine in obese children.

With this fact, the use of Phentermine in obese children is only dependent on the decision of a physician. He needs to weigh in the risks as compared to the benefits before he can prescribe Phentermine to children. Plus, he will recommend the right usage of this drug for the maximum advantage and safety of the patient.

To be on the safer side of treating obesity, there are a lot of alternatives to be given to obese children. Consult a physician for the best help your child can get for the problem. However, what is mostly recommended in treating obesity in children is a combination of good diet and regular exercise. The diet that must be provided must be nutritious so as to still support the good growth of the child. On the other hand, the parents must support their obese children in incorporating exercise activities that are proper for their age and their lifestyle.

Can obese children take Phentermine? The answer is yes if given a permission and prescription of a qualified physician. However, most of the time, the use of Phentermine in children must only be the last resort. As much as possible, they must not be given diet pills like Phentermine that are very risky in the growing up and overall health of obese children.