Medically, constipation is defined as fewer than three stools per week and severe constipation is less than one stool per week. Some of the symptoms of constipation include lower abdominal discomfort, a sense of incomplete evacuation (the feeling that you still have to “go”) after a bowel movement, straining to have a bowel movement, hard or small stools, rectal bleeding, and/or anal fissures caused by hard stools, physiological distress and/or obsession with having bowel movements.
Older adults can be more susceptible to the constipation side effect of medications because of a digestive system that’s off balance. “That can be caused by natural aging, or by a defect you might have been able to compensate for when you were younger, but can’t now that you’re older. Taking several medications can make constipation worse. Symptoms include having bowel movements too infrequently (typically fewer than three times a week); having hard or small, lumpy stools; having stools that are hard to pass; straining; having painful bowel movements; or having the sensation of incomplete emptying after a bowel movement.
What is Duromine?
Duromine is a brand of Phentermine, a prescription weight loss medication approved by the FDA in 1959 for short-term use of up to 12 weeks for people older than 16. Duromine is a controlled substance due to its chemical similarities to the stimulant amphetamine, making it available only with a prescription. Phentermine belongs to a class of drugs called “anorectics,” also known as appetite suppressants. Taking Duromine helps suppress your appetite, thereby limiting how many calories you eat. Over time, this can lead to weight loss.
While the exact mechanisms behind the appetite-reducing effects of Duromine remain unclear, the drug is thought to act by increasing neurotransmitter levels in your brain. Neurotransmitters are your body’s chemical messengers and include norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. When your levels of these three chemicals increase, your feeling of hunger decreases.
Does Duromine Cause Constipation?
Yes, Duromine can cause constipation like other nervous system stimulants. This is because they bring about dehydration which explains why headaches, dry mouth and constipation are common side effects of using Duromine for weight loss.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
- chest pain, feeling like you might pass out;
- swelling in your ankles or feet;
- pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
- tremors, feeling restless, trouble sleeping;
- unusual changes in mood or behavior; or
- increased blood pressure – severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, anxiety, nosebleed.
Common Duromine side effects may include:
- itching;
- dizziness, headache;
- dry mouth, unpleasant taste;
- diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain; or
- increased or decreased interest in sex.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect Duromine?
Taking Duromine together with other diet medications such as fenfluramine (Phen-Fen) or dexfenfluramine (Redux) can cause a rare fatal lung disorder called pulmonary hypertension. Do not take Duromine with any other diet medications without your doctor’s advice.
Many drugs can interact with Duromine. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
