Lomaira: New Low Dose 4-Hour Phentermine

Lomaira is an appetite suppressant. It is a new low-dose, fast-acting version of phentermine approved by the FDA in 2016. Doctors have been prescribing phentermine for over 60 years. It is the most commonly prescribed weight loss medication. In fact, doctors wrote over 7 million prescriptions for it in 2016 alone. To date, over 125,000 healthcare professionals have prescribed this medication, including obesity specialists, family practitioners, endocrinologists, internists, and cardiologists.

How is Lomaira Different?

Regular phentermine is long acting. Therefore, you take it at breakfast or in the mid-morning. Typical doses are 15mg, 30mg, or 37.5 mg (Adipex). It is effective for about 8-10 hours and gradually wears off in the early evening. Because of its long acting effects, patients only take that single dose. As a result, much less medication remains in the blood after 5 pm than before 5 pm. Long-acting medications do not release evenly throughout the day. Adipex is the only long active form that enables patients to split the pill into half doses. One takes a dose in the morning and another later in the afternoon.

Best for Evening Eating and Cravings

Lomaira is the lowest dose appetite suppressant in the phentermine group. Patients can take it up to three times a day before meals. Unlike the higher doses, you can take Lomaira before each meal and in the late afternoon or early evening. Therefore, it’s ideal for dieters with hunger at dinner and in the evening when the longer acting versions would be wearing off. Because phentermine has stimulant effects, taking higher doses of the long-acting versions or taking them later in the day often interferes with sleep.

I have prescribed this weight loss medication in my Miami office since its release in 2016. Patients have experienced great results. Most importantly, we individualize dosages to obtain the best response with the lowest necessary dose. It is especially helpful for those “dangerous” early evening cravings. Because it is a short-acting appetite suppressant, it’s ideal for people who overeat at dinner and throughout the evening.

Lomaira Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

• 4-hour appetite Control
• Minimal side effects
• Easy to control dosing
• Long history of safety
• Minimal interference with sleep (people can take it as late as 6PM without affecting sleep)
• Possible less development of tolerance
• Inexpensive compared to new medications
• Ideal for evening over-eaters

Disadvantages

• Very low dose
• If used alone, need to take 2 or 3 doses a day
• We may need to combine it with a second medication to achieve full day appetite control

How Does Lomaira Work?

After taking Lomaria, it quickly dissolves in the stomach and then is rapidly absorbed into the blood. After that, it passes into the brain. It stimulates the release of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine in neurons. To a lesser extent, it also releases dopamine and serotonin into synapses. This acts on the appetite center in the hypothalamus to reduce appetite so you feel full and eat less.

Outside of the brain, it releases norepinephrine and epinephrine. This causes fat cells to break down stored fat. It also minimizes your calorie intake by reducing the absorption of starch and fat by the body.

How Effective is Lomaira?

Phentermine is the active ingredient in Lomaira. Its appetite suppressant properties have been widely studied and produce consistent outcomes. As a result, it is the most commonly prescribed weight loss medication in the world.

I prescribe Lomaira as one of the medication options in my Miami Diet Plan. Patients report less desire to eat and snack, especially later in the evening. Weight loss of around 2 lbs./week is common.

What are the Side Effects of Lomaira?

Some reported side effects of Lomaira include pulmonary hypertension, valvular heart disease, palpitations, increased heart rate or blood pressure, insomnia, restlessness, dry mouth, diarrhea, constipation and changes in sexual drive. These are not all of the potential side effects of Lomaira.

Tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure, even if it’s mild. If you are taking medicines for type 2 diabetes, your doctor may have to adjust these medicines while taking Lomaira.

The drug manufacturer advises caution when engaging in potentially hazardous activity such as driving or operating machinery while taking Lomaira. This medication has the potential to be abused. Keep it in a safe place to prevent theft, accidental overdose, misuse or abuse. Using alcohol with this medication may result in an adverse reaction.

Who Can Take Lomaira?

Lomaira is for adults with an initial BMI of 30 or more (obese) or 27 or more (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical condition such as controlled high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol. It is intended for short term use of up to 12 weeks. It is not recommended for use in pediatric patients 16 years of age or younger.

Who Should NOT take Lomaira

Don’t take Lomaira if you have a history of cardiovascular disease. You shouldn’t take this medication if you are taking or have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor drug (MAOI) within the past 14 days. Don’t take this medication if you have an overactive thyroid, glaucoma, agitation, a history of drug abuse, are pregnant, nursing, or allergic to the sympathomimetic amines such as phentermine or any of the ingredients in Lomaira.

What the Experts Say

Lomaira can help patients who meet appropriate guidelines (no history of heart diseases, not pregnant or nursing, controlled blood pressure, etc.) and who are undertaking a dietary program. Patients can take Lomaira for a few weeks or months to lose weight and then switch to weight loss maintenance approaches. The chief advantages of Lomaira are that the medication improves the safety and efficacy profile of Phentermine by allowing physicians to tailor treatment to an individual patient’s needs, thus giving them the minimum dose needed for efficacy and timing that dose to the patient’s hunger profile. – Weight Expert Dr. Donna Ryan, Editor of the Journal Obesity and Endocrinology Professor at LSU

Each individual needs to discuss the use of these medications with their personal physician to see which medications will be safe and effective.