Proper Use of This Medicine

In order to prevent trouble in sleeping, if you are taking:

• One dose of this medicine a day, take it about 10 to 14 hours before bedtime.
• More than one dose of this medicine a day, take the last dose of the day about 4 to 6 hours before bedtime.

For patients taking a long-acting form of this medicine:

• Swallow these capsules or tablets whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.

For patients taking mazindol :

• This medicine may be taken with food, if needed, to prevent stomach upset.

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor . Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. If too much is taken, it may cause unwanted effects or become habit-forming.

If you think this medicine is not working properly after you have taken it for a few weeks, do not increase the dose . Instead, check with your doctor.

Dosing—The dose of appetite suppressants will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of appetite suppressants. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

For benzphetamine
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For appetite suppression:
    • Adults—At first, 25 to 50 milligrams (mg) once a day, taken in midmorning or midafternoon. Your doctor may need to adjust your dose.
    • Children up to 16 years of age—Use is not recommended.

For diethylpropion
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For appetite suppression:
    • Adults—25 milligrams (mg) three times a day, taken one hour before meals.
    • Children up to 16 years of age—Use is not recommended.
• For long-acting oral dosage form (extended-release tablets):
  • For appetite suppression:
    • Adults—75 mg once a day, taken in midmorning.
    • Children up to 16 years of age—Use is not recommended.

For mazindol
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For appetite suppression:
    • Adults—At first, 1 milligram (mg) once a day. Your doctor may need to adjust your dose.
    • Children up to 16 years of age—Use is not recommended.

For phendimetrazine
• For long-acting oral dosage form (extended-release capsules):
  • For appetite suppression:
    • Adults—105 mg once a day, taken thirty to sixty minutes before the morning meal.
    • Children up to 16 years of age—Use is not recommended.
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For appetite suppression:
    • Adults—17.5 to 35 mg two or three times a day, taken one hour before meals.
    • Children up to 16 years of age—Use is not recommended.

For phentermine
• For oral dosage form (capsules):
  • For appetite suppression:
    • Adults—15 to 37.5 milligrams (mg) once a day, taken before breakfast or one to two hours after breakfast.
    • Children up to 16 years of age—Use is not recommended.
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For appetite suppression:
    • Adults—15 to 37.5 mg once a day, taken before breakfast or one to two hours after breakfast. Instead of taking it once a day, your doctor may tell you to take smaller doses thirty minutes before meals.
    • Children up to 16 years of age—Use is not recommended.
• For oral resin dosage form (capsules):
  • For appetite suppression:
    • Adults—15 to 30 mg once a day, taken before breakfast.
    • Children up to 16 years of age—Use is not recommended.

Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.