Does Phentermine Affect Your Period – Will It Mess with Periods

Although menstrual irregularities aren’t a recognized side effect of phentermine, anecdotal evidence suggests that female patients frequently experience them.

Phentermine does not directly affect estrogen-like hormones or the balance of hormones. Some side effects of phentermine use include nervousness or slowed digestion.

Why do these issues occur in females taking phentermine? Is it possible to use phentermine without worrying about these side effects?

Let me share with you what I discovered during my research on this subject.

How Phentermine Affects Your Period

According to a recent online survey, about 1 in 8 phentermine users experience period problems, despite the drug’s lack of a common side effect list.

Some of the menstrual cycle changes that users report while taking this medication include:

• Early or late periods
• Extra or missed periods
• Lighter or heavier periods
• Shorter or longer periods
• Spotting (intermittent bleeding) between periods
• Worse PMS side effects, including cramps, nausea, and lightheadedness.
• Postmenopausal bleeding

A period is “early” if it occurs 6 or more days earlier than expected and “late” if it comes more than 5 days late. A “missed period” is no menstrual flow for more than 35 days.

Why Does Phentermine Affect Your Period?

The menstrual cycle of a woman cannot be harmed directly by stimulants like phentermine, according to scientific research. Even so, many female patients report noticeable irregularities in their menstrual cycles.

In the absence of a clear, scientific answer, three basic theories stand-out as explanations for why phentermine affects your menstrual cycle:

Dramatic Weight Loss

The most likely explanation for phentermine period problems is hormonal changes related to weight loss.

With weight loss, estrogen levels in particular decrease. As the main hormone in charge of regulating the menstrual cycle, estrogen, a sudden drop in estrogen brought on by weight loss (or increased exercise) can interfere with your period.

Too much or too little estrogen can cause menstrual changes, including infrequent or missed periods, or unusually light or heavy flow.

Taking a Stimulant

In addition to stimulating the central nervous system, phentermine also affects a different class of hormones known as catecholamines. The menstrual cycle is also regulated by these hormones, which also include dopamine, epinephrine (adrenaline), and norepinephrine.

A woman’s period may also be impacted by medications (like phentermine) that mimic a similar stress response because catecholamine levels soar during times of stress and we know that too much stress disrupts the menstrual cycle.

Dietary Changes

Inadequate nutrition is another cause of an abnormal menstrual cycle.

The amount of calories, fat, protein, or micronutrients consumed may be insufficient, alone or in combination with other factors. Unfortunately, eating too little can cause period disruption and aggravate menstrual symptoms like cramps, nausea, and lightheadedness.

Keto diets and other overly restrictive eating plans frequently cause difficulties. In fact, “menstrual dysfunction” is the second most common side effect of medically-supervised keto diets, second only to weight loss.

How to Combat Phentermine Period Problems

The severity of each person’s phentermine period issues varies, so how you handle them should change according to that.

Consider making lifestyle changes to combat PMS if your symptoms are relatively mild. These changes may also help with some typical phentermine period issues. However, make an appointment right away with your prescribing physician or gynecologist so that the two of you can collaborate to find a solution if you are experiencing more severe phentermine menstrual cycle problems.

Here are three ways you can deal with phentermine period problems:

• Modify Daily Habits

Phentermine period pain can be lessened and even avoided with a healthy diet and exercise routine.

Read More: How to Shower During Your Period

• Diet

According to studies, diet can significantly affect hormone levels and, consequently, period pain.

A low-fat, high-fiber diet, for instance, is linked to lower estrogen levels. Therefore, women who eat a low-fat, vegetarian diet have a significantly lower incidence of PMS and menstrual pain.

A diet low in salt and caffeine and high in omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and vitamin D can also help lessen PMS symptoms.

Include a variety of nutritious, iron-rich foods in your diet to lower the risk of anemia if you’re bleeding more than usual due to a phentermine-heavy period. Examples include lean red meat, dark leafy greens, and pumpkin seeds.

• Exercise

Exercise has been shown to be an effective way to treat cramps and other PMS symptoms, even though curling up in a ball on the couch might sound more appealing.

On most days of the week, try to engage in moderate activity for at least 30 minutes. If the pain from your phentermine period prevents you from engaging in strenuous activities, try a quick stroll, a leisurely swim, some yoga, or Zumba to ease the discomfort.

Conclusion

When you use Phentermine, there is a chance that you could experience late periods or other cycle problems.

About 12.5% of women taking Phentermine experienced various issues with their periods, according to a web survey conducted by the medication’s manufacturer. The maker does not believe that using the drug is directly related to other disorders of a similar nature. To feel good and be more active each day, the manufacturer advises following a healthy diet.

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