About Tenuate
Tenuate is prescribed as an appetite suppressant for the first
few weeks of a weight control program. This medication works most
effectively when combined with changes to diet and exercise habits,
by making it easier to make healthy lifestyle choices. Because Tenuate
works to reduce hunger and stimulate your metabolism, it increases
the effectiveness of a low calorie diet and moderate exercise. Diet
and exercise changes must be maintained after you have stopped taking
Tenuate to keep lost weight from returning.
Because of the risk of rare, but serious, side effects, Tenuate
is usually prescribed to individuals whose weight problem
poses a severe health risk. If you have a weight-related disorder
such as diabetes or high blood pressure, Tenuate may help you
see positive results more quickly, reducing the danger of
weight-related disease.
Tenuate is only available by prescription. Use only as much,
and as often, as prescribed by your doctor.
Tenuate Side Effects
Prolonged use of appetite suppressants like Tenuate can cause
skin problems, sleep disorders, and irritable or hyperactive behavior.
Use Tenuate only as long as your doctor recommends it, and do
not exceed the suggested dosage.
Common Tenuate side effects may include: Contipation,
dizziness, dry mouth, false feeling of well-being, headache,
increase of blood pressure, insomnia, irritability, nausea
or vomiting, restlessness, stomach cramps, trembling.
Less common Tenuate side effects may include: Blurred
vision, diarrhea, difficult or painful urination, decreased
sexual desire, excessive urination, fast or irregular heartbeat;
paranoia, hallucinations (feeling, seeing, or hearing things
that are not there), irritable bowel, mental depression or
elation, severe headaches, skin rash or hives, sweating.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience weakness,
chest pain, difficulty breathing, fainting, shortness of breath,
or swelling of the feet. These side effects are rare, but
may indicate a serious reaction to Tenuate.
Excessive Dosing or Extended Use: When used
for longer than your doctor recommends, or in larger doses
than suggested, this medication may cause the following side
effects. Excessive or frenetic activity, extreme irritability,
mental illness, schizophrenia, severe insomnia, skin disease.
Overdose: Altered blood pressure, coma,
confusion, convulsions, depression following excitement, desire
to attack someone, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, fast breathing,
fever, hallucinations (feeling, seeing, or hearing things
that are not there), hostility, irregular heartbeat, nausea
or vomiting, tremor or shaking, tiredness or weakness. Seek
immediate emergency care.
Cautions: Tenuate is not recommended for patients with
certain conditions or medical histories, and may only be recommended
with caution for others. Please advise your doctor of any
history of the following to ensure that your treatment is
safe and effective.
- Alcohol or substance abuse: Dependence
more likely.
- Allergy: If you have had an allergic
reaction to any stimulant medication, you probably should
not use Tenuate. If you develop an allergic reaction, you
will have to permanently discontinue treatment, as drug
allergies can be life-threatening. Also infor your doctor
of any food or dye allergies.
- Heart disease: May become worse.
- High blood pressure: May become worse.
- Hardening of the arteries, or other blood vessel
disease: May become worse.
- Overactive thyroid: May become worse.
- Glaucoma: May become worse.
- Diabetes: your doctor may want to adjust
your dosage of Tenuate or insulin
- Kidney disease: A buildup of Tenuate may
occur in your body with regular doses; your doctor may prescribe
a smaller dose
- Mental illness: Tenuate use can activate
or increase certain symptoms
Tenuate Interactions
Tenuate should be taken with caution, or not at all, with the following medications. Let your doctor know if you are taking, or plan to take, any of the following medications during your Tenuate treatment.
- Alcohol - avoid all alcoholic beverages while taking Tenuate
- Allergy or hay fever medication
- Amphetamines - avoid mixing these drugs with Tenuate
- Anesthesia or other medications used during surgery may
react badly with Tenuate; always let your doctor or dentist
know if you are taking Tenuate.
- Appetite suppressants or other diet pills - Mixing Tenuate
with other diet pills can greatly increase the risk of developing
heart problems, and has not been shown to be more effective.
- Asthma medication
- Caffeine - Vivarin, NoDoz, or any other over the counter
medication offered to help you stay awake. Certain herbal
weight loss preparations may contain caffeine or other
stimulants, do not use any of them with Tenuate. Read labels
carefully and consult your doctor or pharmacist about unfamiliar
ingredients.
- Cesamet (nabilone)
- Cocaine - Avoid mixing this drug with Tenuate, the reaction
could be life-threatening.
- Cold or sinus medication - These drugs may contain stimulants
that could increase the risk of unwanted side effects. Speak
with your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you should
come down with a cold or flu during treatment.
- Cylert (pemoline)
- Diet pills - Do not use any other type
of prescription or over the counter weight loss medication
while using this treatment. The drug reaction could be life-threatening.
- Ephedra - Do not use this herb while taking Tenuate.
- Ginseng - Do not use this herb while taking Tenuate.
- Gotu kola - Do not use this herb while taking Tenuate.
- Insulin, Micronase, or other diabetes medications; your
doctor may adjust your dosage while you are taking Tenuate.
- Ismelin (guanethidine) - consult your doctor about mixing
Tenuate with Ismelin, or any other medication prescribed
for high blood pressure
- Kola nut - Do not use this herb while taking Tenuate.
- Ma Huang - Do not use this herb while taking Tenuate.
- MAO inhibitors - Tenuate must never be mixed with MAO (monoamine
oxidase) inhibitors such as the antidepressants Nardil,
Marplan, or Parnate. Never use Tenuate within 2 weeks
of starting or stopping an MAO inhibitor. Patients over
65 should allow a longer wait period between using Tenuate
and an MAO, as medications may stay in their system longer
than in other patients.
- Pondimin (fenfluramine) or dexfenfluramine- combining
these weight loss drugs with Tenuate could cause dangerous
side effects
- Ritalin (methylphenidate)
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Celexa
(citalopram), Prozac
(fluoxetine), Luvox
(fluvoxamine), Paxil
(paroxetine), or Zoloft
(sertraline) may be unsafe in combination with this
appetite suppressant.
- Street drugs of any type should not be mixed with Tenuate.
They may be unpredictably laced with stimulants, or cause
a dangerous reaction on their own.
- Symmetrel (amantadine)
- Tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil
(amitriptyline), Asendin (amoxapine), Anafranil (clomipramine),
Pertofrane or Norpramin (desipramine), Sinequan
(doxepin), Tofranil (imipramine), Aventyl or Pamelor
(nortriptyline),
Vivactil (protriptyline),
and Surmontil (trimipramine), may increase the risk of side
effects from Tenuate. Using these drugs together can increase
the risk of high blood pressure or irregular heartbeat.
- Ulone (chlophedianol)
It is not safe to combine Tenuate with any other stimulant
or appetite suppressant. Exercise caution when buying over the counter
medications or supplements, and always consult your doctor or pharmacist
if you have doubts about the safety of any drug combination.
Always advise your dentist, doctor, or anesthesiologist that
you are using Tenuate if you go in for dental work, surgery,
or to the emergency room. It is dangerous to mix Tenuate
with many of the medications used in these circumstances.
Tenuate Dosages
The recommended dosages for adults are as follows: For
regular tablets, 25mg, three times daily, an hour before a
meal. For extended-release tablets, the dosage is 75mg once
daily, taken in midmorning. Follow your doctor's instructions
carefully.
Children under 16 should not take Tenuate.
Tenuate Directions
If you miss a dose of Tenuate, skip it and wait until it's
time for your next regular dose. Never take a double dose of Tenuate,
as this could increase the likelihood of side effects and addiction.
Store away from direct light and heat. Store in a dry location;
avoid storing it in the bathroom, near sinks, or other areas where
it may become damp. Do not use after the expiration date.
Keep Tenuate away from children; both when storing it, and
when discarding any unused medication.
If you experience dry mouth, this may be relieved by chewing sugarless
gum, ice, or drinking plenty of water. If this symptom, or any other,
persists, you should inform your doctor immediately.
Tenuate may cause mood changes, lightheadedness, or drowsiness.
Be aware of your reactions to Tenuate before deciding to drive,
operate machinery, or perform any other potentially dangerous tasks.
After a few weeks, Tenuate normally becomes less effective.
Do not increase your dose at this time, it could result in an increased
risk of side effects or dependence. Consult your doctor immediately.
For maximum effect, you should combine Tenuate use with a
reduced calorie diet and exercise. Tenuate and Pregnancy
High doses of Tenuate during pregnancy can cause withdrawal
in newborns, and medications of this type have been known to cause
birth defects. Advise your doctor if you are pregnant, or intend
to become pregnant.
Tenuate is not recommended during breastfeeding as it has not
been shown to be safe, and may cause unwanted side effects in your
newborn.
Tenuate and Children
Tenuate has not been studied for safety or use for children
and it is not recommended for children under 16.
Tenuate and Seniors
Tenuate has not been studied separately in older adults. There are no special recommendations or cautions for seniors.
Tenuate is a trademark of Aventis
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This document is provided for information only. It is not a substitute for consultation with a physician, either to diagnose symptoms or prescribe treatment. Any dosages mentioned are general guidelines only, please follow the directions of your doctor or pharmacist exactly when taking medication. We have made every effort to ensure that this information is accurate, but only your doctor can say if a medication, or drug combination, is safe for you. Information intended for US residents only.
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