Suprenza

Suprenza is a controlled medication used for weight loss. Try to avoid drinking large amounts of beverages containing caffeine. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication.

Suprenza Overview

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Suprenza is a prescription medicine used for weight loss.  It is taken for a limited amount of time by overweight adults, along with exercise and a low-fat diet. Suprenza belongs to a group of drugs called anorectics. It works by decreasing appetite.

Suprenza is available as an orally disintegrating tablet and is usually taken in the morning, with or without food.

Common side effects of Suprenza include dry mouth, fast heart beat, insomnia, and dizziness.

Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Suprenza affects you.

 

How was your experience with Suprenza?

First, a little about yourself

Tell us about yourself in a few words?

What tips would you provide a friend before taking Suprenza?

What are you taking Suprenza for?

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  • Other
  • Obesity

How long have you been taking it?

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  • Less than a week
  • A couple weeks
  • A month or so
  • A few months
  • A year or so
  • Two years or more

How well did Suprenza work for you?

Did you experience many side effects while taking this drug?

How likely would you be to recommend Suprenza to a friend?

Suprenza Cautionary Labels

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Uses of Suprenza

Suprenza is a prescription medicine used to help adults lose weight.  It is taken for a limited amount of time by overweight people who are exercising and eating a low-calorie diet.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses.  Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Manufacturer

Suprenza Drug Class

Suprenza is part of the drug class:

Side Effects of Suprenza

Suprenza can cause primary pulmonary hypertension, a rare but serious and sometimes fatal side effect. This is a condition where the pressure of the arteries in your lungs increases, causing more pressure on your heart which can lead to heart failure and death. The first symptoms is often shortness of breath or lightheadedness during activity. Other symptoms include:

  • Ankle and leg swelling
  • Bluish color of the lips or skin 
  • Chest pain or pressure, usually in the front of the chest
  • Dizziness or fainting spells
  • Tiredness
  • Increased abdomen size
  • Weakness

Common side effects include:

  • High blood pressure
  • fast heart beats
  • insomnia
  • dizziness
  • rash
  • diarrhea
  • tremors
  • constipation

This is not a complete list of Suprenza side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Suprenza Interactions

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

  • fluoxetine (Prozac)
  • fluvoxamine (Luvox) 
  • guanethidine
  • oral hypoglycemic medications for diabetes
  • insulin (you may need to increase your dose of insulin while taking Suprenza)
  • medications for weight loss and depression
  • paroxetine (Paxil)
  • sertraline (Zoloft)
  • monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar) and tranylcypromine (Parnate)

This is not a complete list of Suprenza drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

 

Suprenza Precautions

Serious side effects have been reported with Suprenza including the following:

  • Primary pulmonary hypertension. This is a condition when there is high blood pressure in the arteries to your lungs. Your doctor may stop treatment with Suprenza if you develop this complication. Symptoms include
    • shortness of breath during routine activity, such as climbing two flights of stairs
    • tiredness
    • chest pain
    • a racing heartbeat
    • pain on the upper right side of the abdomen
    • decreased appetite
  • Development of Tolerance. Suprenza is a controlled substance. There is a potential for developing tolerance. Tolerance to the anorectic effect usually develops within a few weeks. When tolerance to the Suprenza develops, the recommended dose should not be exceeded in an attempt to increase the effect. Instead Suprenza should be discontinued.
  • Effect on the Ability to Engage in Potentially Hazardous Tasks.  Suprenza may impair the ability of the patient to drive or operate heavy machinery. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Suprenza affects you.

  • Risk of Abuse and Dependence. Suprenza should not be stopped all of a sudden especially if Suprenza dose is high. This can lead to serious problems.

  • Valvular heart disease.

  • Use in Patients with Hypertension. Patients with even mild hypertension (high blood pressure) are at risk of an increase in blood pressure if taking Suprenza.

  • Risk of Allergic Reactions due to Tartrazine. Suprenza 15 mg and 30 mg ODT contains FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine), which may cause allergic-type reactions (including bronchial asthma) in certain susceptible individuals. Although the overall incidence of FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine) sensitivity in the general population is low, it is frequently seen in patients who also have aspirin hypersensitivity.

Drinking alcohol with Suprenza may result in an adverse drug reactions.

You should not take Suprenza if you have:

  • are allergic to Suprenza or to any of its ingredients
  • heart disease
  • lung disease
  • hyperthyroidism
  • glaucoma
  • a history of drug abuse or dependence
  • agitated state
  • depression being treated with certain antidepressant medications called MAOI inhibitors

Suprenza should not be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Suprenza Food Interactions

While there are no specific Suprenza food interactions, you should avoid drinking large amounts of beverages containing caffeine (coffee, tea, colas) or eating large amounts of chocolate while taking Suprenza as caffeine can increase the side effects of this medicine.

 

Inform MD

Before taking Suprenza, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

  • are allergic to Suprenza or to any of its ingredients
  • have high blood pressure
  • drink alcohol
  • a history of drug abuse or dependence
  • decreased kidney function
  • have diabetes
  • are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Suprenza and Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Suprenza falls into category X. Suprenza should not be used during pregnancy because weight loss offers no potential benefit to a pregnant woman and may result in fetal harm. There are no situations where the benefits of the medication for the mother outweigh the risks of harm to the baby. These medicines should never be used by pregnant women.

Suprenza and Lactation

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Suprenza crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Suprenza.

Suprenza Usage

Take Suprenza exactly as prescribed.

Suprenza is available as an orally disintegrating tablet form and is usually taken in the morning, with or without food.

Taking Suprenza in the evening can cause insomnia (trouble falling asleep or staying asleep), so Suprenza should be taken in the morning.

With dry hands, gently remove the Suprenza (phentermine hydrochloride ODT) tablet from the bottle. Immediately place the tablet on top of the tongue where it will dissolve, then swallow with or without water.

Do not drink alcohol while taking Suprenza.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Suprenza at the same time.

Suprenza Dosage

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends will be individualized to obtain an adequate response with the lowest effective dose.

The typical adult dose is one tablet in the morning, with or without food.

Suprenza is available as 15 mg, 30 mg, or 37.5 mg orally disintegrating tablets.

Suprenza Overdose

If you take too much Suprenza, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.