Exact Answer: 10-12 Hours
Obesity has become a major problem in the whole world. And in order to cure it, weight-loss and dieting is the only option left. But this doesn’t work for a few. In this case, the anti-obesity medicine, i.e. phentermine remains the only option left to an individual.
A famous and most widely prescribed weight loss medication, it is available as a tablet, OTD, and capsules. But the main concern about it is what foods/drinks can one take after having eaten it and how much time gap ought to be maintained.
How Long After Phentermine can I Drink Alcohol?
Generally speaking, there should be at least 10-12 hours of gap between alcohol and phentermine. This is done so that both of these don’t combine, which would have caused severe reactions. Now that you know this reason, you should also be aware of how this medication works in the body. This medicine belongs to a class of drugs called anorectics.
The exact process of how this drug works in the body is still unknown. It could be that they release/increase the release of certain chemicals in the body, reducing the appetite. You would probably eat less and this ultimately would help in weight loss.
This phentermine medication should not interact with the alcohol you consume. But it is also important that it doesn’t interact with the other medications, vitamins you are taking. You should definitely consult your doctor regarding this to avoid any future problems.
Alcohol and phentermine should not be mixed together due to various reasons. You really need to avoid alcohol for at least 12 hours as the effect of phentermine remains for this long.
Phentermine alone is a stimulant drug. It can be used to produce a high when used in large doses. Take it only under the guidance of the experts. Avoid taking it for a longer time duration. This will prevent you from getting addicted and dependent on it.
| Medicine | Time |
| Phentermine (if no ailments) | After 10-12 hours |
| Phentermine (if the person has diabetes, BP) | After 15-16 hours |
Why Does it Take So Long to Drink Alcohol After Phentermine?
The time gap between alcohol and phentermine should be 12 hours. This is no hard and fast rule. But this would be beneficial for you. The main reason behind this is the side effects.
Yes, you read it correctly. Alcohol when mixed with phentermine creates some serious side effects. Rather it fuels the side effects created by phentermine. The major ones are gastrointestinal issues and cardiovascular issues.
It has been found that people who consume alcohol while they are taking phentermine experience gastrointestinal problems. Might be because the alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach. This in turn causes nausea, vomiting, heartburns, and stomach aches as well.
The other risk associated with it is heart-related problems. Chest pain, increased heart rate, a higher increase in blood pressure are some of the problems faced when alcohol is mixed with phentermine.
When you consume alcohol within 10-12 hours of having taken that medicine, it may react and affect the central nervous system of the body. This may cause dizziness, drowsy feeling, depression, loss of concentration, etc.
One more thing to remember is that you are on a weight-loss journey. And the medicine you are taking is for weight loss. If it gets in contact with alcohol, it may produce the opposite effect. Alcohol can sabotage your efforts of losing weight.
Studies have also shown that mixing of these too can increase the potential for parasomnia (perform a task while asleep/sleepwalking).
Conclusion
Obesity is a widespread problem nowadays. But it is not a non-preventable condition. With proper medications and experts, supervision, it can be cured successfully.
You should take care that you do not consume alcohol if you are on medication of weight loss drug phentermine. This is mostly because of the various side effects that this mixture produces.
The time gap between the consumption of phentermine and alcohol should be 10-12 hours. Now that you know about all the possible damages and problems created by it, you should follow what’s best for your health.