Phentermine, is it ok for a doctor to prescribe it to a person nonstop for 4 years?

Someone went to a local weight loss doctor and was prescribed Phentermine for weight loss. At this place, you can go back every week and they will just hand over a new prescription.

I'm guessing this person had no idea what the effects were and became addicted. He continued going for 4yrs because he became addicted to the drug.

This person is not severely overweight (see quote below for drug info) and has been taking it for 4 yrs!!!!! How can a doctor continue writing prescriptions for this drug for this long knowing its HIGHLY addictive and for short term use only!

I seriously want to walk up to the place and ask how they can do this!

He is finally admitting he has a problem and I figured ok, its just a diet pill, not big deal, but no, see second quote below about possible withdrawal symptoms, including cardiac arrest, stroke, and heart palpitations!

"A phentermine addiction has the potential to be life-threatening. Dependence can occur rapidly, making it difficult to discontinue the drug. Phentermine is truly designed for short-term use only in severely overweight individuals and extending use or increases in dosage as a result of dependence can create significant problems for a person once they seek to discontinue the medication."

"Withdrawal of Phentermine"

The body can develop an intense and unsafe addiction to phentermine very quickly. Someone who finds themselves physiologically and psychologically dependent upon the drug may find it very difficult to function without it. An abrupt discontinuation of the drug can create unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms associated with the removal of phentermine from the body can include, but are not limited to:

• Depression

• Headaches

• High blood pressure

• Dizziness

• Diarrhea

• Flatulence

• Stomach pain

• Vomiting

• Menstrual irregularities

• Insomnia

• Irritability

• Glaucoma

• Memory loss

• Heart palpitations

• Congestive heart failure

• Cardiac arrest

• Strokes

• Tremors

• Seizures

• Nerve damage

Phentermine is truly designed for short-term use only in severely overweight individuals and extending use or increases in dosage as a result of dependence can create significant problems for a person once they seek to discontinue the medication.

As this dependence can be both psychological and physiological, it is recommended that users taper off the medication slowly under the care of a board-certified physician and board-certified addiction psychiatrist. A quality center can administer a comfortable detox regimes for 24/7 care that will ensure the individual rids their body of the drug completely, learning to function without it.

Source:http://prescription-drug-abuse.com/weight-loss-pil...