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Benzphetamine Coupon - Benzphetamine 50mg tablet

benzphetamine

Generic Didrex
Used for Weight Loss
Used for Weight Loss

Benzphetamine, formerly known by its brand name Didrex, is a prescription appetite suppressant that's used with diet and exercise to help adults with weight loss. It's classified as a sympathomimetic medication and is also a Schedule III controlled substance. Benzphetamine is currently available only as a generic tablet that's taken by mouth once per day. Side effects include high blood pressure, trouble sleeping, and restlessness.

Last reviewed on September 24, 2024
Benzphetamine is a controlled substance, which means that it's more likely to be misused or cause dependence. There are federal and state laws that limit the amount of medication that can be prescribed or dispensed within a certain period of time.
basics-icon

What is Benzphetamine?

What is Benzphetamine used for?

Short-term treatment for weight management in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater

How Benzphetamine works

Benzphetamine is a sympathomimetic (stimulant). The exact way it works to help with weight loss isn't well understood. But it's thought to lower your appetite by raising the levels of certain chemicals in your brain that control hunger.

Drug Facts

Common BrandsDidrex (brand no longer available)
Drug ClassSympathomimetic amine
Controlled Substance ClassificationSchedule III
Generic StatusLower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
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What are the risks and warnings for Benzphetamine?

Benzphetamine can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

risk-warning

Not safe with other weight loss medications

Benzphetamine shouldn't be used within 1 year of taking other medications for weight loss, including ones found over the counter. This is because of a higher risk of serious side effects, like heart or breathing problems. Talk with your care team if you have more questions about your treatment plan.

risk-warning

Lower response to the medication over time

Benzphetamine isn't meant for long-term use because you can develop tolerance, meaning that it stops working over time. Raising the dose of benzphetamine won't help and isn't safe because of the risk for serious side effects. Let your prescriber know if you've noticed weight gain or your appetite returning after you've been taking this medication. They'll need to recommend other treatment options for you.

risk-warning

Risk of misuse and dependence

  • Risk factors: Taking more benzphetamine than prescribed

    Similar to other stimulants, benzphetamine has a risk of misuse and for causing dependence, which can lead to stimulant use disorder. To lower this risk, your healthcare professional will usually prescribe a limited amount at a time. Take benzphetamine exactly as directed. It's meant for short-term use, typically just a few weeks. If interested, talk with your care team to learn more about long-term weight management options.

    risk-warning

    High blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension)

    • Risk factors: Taking benzphetamine for longer than 3 months

      Although rare, benzphetamine can cause pulmonary hypertension, or high blood pressure in the lungs. Pulmonary hypertension is serious and can be life-threatening. The risk is higher if you take medications that lower your appetite, including benzphetamine, for longer than 3 months. If you experience trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting, or swelling in your legs, stop the medication and get medical help right away.

      risk-warning

      Heart valve problem

      • Risk factors: Long-term use | Taking high doses | Taking multiple medications that lower your appetite

        People taking stimulants similar to benzphetamine experienced heart valve problems. The risk is higher for those using the medication long-term or taking multiple appetite-suppressing medications. Let your prescriber know if you have dizziness, chest pain, leg or ankle swelling, irregular heartbeat, fatigue, or trouble breathing.

        risk-warning

        Risk of high blood pressure

        Let your prescriber know if you have high blood pressure, even if your condition is well-controlled by medications. Taking benzphetamine might raise your risk for high blood pressure so your care team might ask you to check your blood pressure more often during treatment.

        risk-warning

        Risk of low blood sugar in people with diabetes

        • Risk factors: Taking insulin

          People with diabetes who are taking medications that lower blood sugar like insulin are at higher risk for low blood sugar during treatment with benzphetamine. This can happen due to changes in eating habits and appetite with benzphetamine. Your diabetes care team might need to adjust the dose of your blood sugar medications after you start benzphetamine.

          Always keep emergency glucose tablets or hard candy with you in case your blood sugar drops too low. If you experience symptoms of low blood sugar, such as feeling faint, shaking, and sweating, check and treat your low blood sugar levels right away. If your symptoms don't improve, get medical help.

          basics-icon

          What are the side effects of Benzphetamine?

          The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

          Common Side Effects

          • Fast heartbeat
          • High blood pressure
          • Feeling overstimulated
          • Restlessness or shakiness
          • Dizziness
          • Trouble sleeping
          • Sweating

          Other Side Effects

          • Headache
          • Dry mouth
          • Having a bad taste in your mouth
          • Nausea
          • Diarrhea
          • Change in sex drive

          Serious Side Effects

          Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

          Source: DailyMed

          The following side effects have also been reported

          Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

          Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

          More common

          Agitation

          anxiety

          confusion

          dizziness

          fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse

          feeling lightheaded or faint

          headache

          hives, welts, itching, skin rash

          irritability

          lightheadedness

          mood or other mental changes

          nervousness

          nightmares

          numbness or tingling in the arms or legs

          redness of the skin

          restlessness

          seizures

          shakiness or trembling in the legs, arms, hands, or feet

          sweating

          trouble sleeping

          trouble thinking, speaking, or walking

          unusual feeling of excitement

          Rare

          Chest discomfort or pain

          discouragement

          feeling sad or empty

          hallucinations

          lack of appetite

          loss of interest or pleasure

          severe mental changes

          swelling of the feet or lower legs

          trouble breathing

          trouble concentrating

          unusual tiredness or weakness

          Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

          Symptoms of overdose

          Blurred vision

          change in consciousness

          dark-colored urine

          diarrhea

          dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position

          fever

          loss of consciousness

          muscle cramps, spasms, pain, or stiffness

          nausea

          nervousness

          physical attempt to injure oneself

          pounding in the ears

          rapid, shallow breathing

          severe anxiety or feeling of panic

          stomach cramps

          violent actions

          vomiting

          Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

          More common

          Decrease in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance

          decreased interest in sexual intercourse

          dry mouth

          inability to have or keep an erection

          increase in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance

          increased interest in sexual intercourse

          unpleasant taste

          Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

          Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

          pros-and-cons

          Pros and cons of Benzphetamine

          thumbs-up

          Pros

          Taken by mouth once per day

          Available as a lower-cost generic medication

          thumbs-down

          Cons

          Risk of misuse and dependency

          Doesn't have a lot of clinical evidence or experience

          pharmacist-tips

          Pharmacist tips for Benzphetamine

          pharmacist
          • Take benzphetamine by mouth once per day with or without food in the mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Taking it too late in the day can cause trouble sleeping.

            • Benzphetamine should be used along with diet and exercise for the best weight loss results. Work with your care team to create a healthy diet and regular exercise plan that suits you.

              • Since benzphetamine lowers your appetite, it can raise your risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) if you have diabetes and take medications like insulin. Let your diabetes specialist know you're taking benzphetamine, they might need to adjust your diabetes medications and recommend that you check your blood sugar more.

                • Since benzphetamine affects the brain, it can make tasks like driving harder. Avoid certain activities until you know how this medication affects you.

                  • Benzphetamine interacts with several medications, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Tell your prescriber about all the medications you're taking before starting benzphetamine, as well as any you plan to take during treatment. They can make sure your medications are safe for you.

                    • If you're pregnant or thinking of getting pregnant, avoid taking benzphetamine. Speak with your primary care provider about how to maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy. Weight loss during pregnancy can cause harm to unborn babies.

                      • It's not known if benzphetamine is safe to take while breastfeeding. Similar stimulant medications are known to pass into breast milk and can potentially cause serious side effects in your baby. Talk to your prescriber or OB-GYN about the risks and benefits of taking this medication while breastfeeding.

                        faqs

                        Frequently asked questions about Benzphetamine

                        How well does benzphetamine work?
                        Since benzphetamine is a fairly old medication, there isn't a lot of available clinical evidence for it. A study from 1961 showed people taking benzphetamine lost 1 pound per week over almost 4 months. But the amount of weight you'll lose and how quickly it happens depends on many things. Talk to your care team if you have more questions about what to expect with benzphetamine.
                        How long does benzphetamine stay in your system?
                        It takes about 1 to 2 days for most of benzphetamine to leave your body. This time frame is estimated based on the half-life of this medication.
                        What's the difference between benzphetamine and phentermine?
                        Both benzphetamine and phentermine (Adipex-P, Lomaira) are stimulant medications used short-term for weight loss. In general, there's more experience with phentermine because there are more studies available. Talk to your care team if you have more questions about the differences between these medications.
                        Why was Didrex discontinued?
                        It's unclear why the brand medication Didrex was discontinued, but it wasn't due to safety or efficacy concerns.
                        Is benzphetamine still available?
                        Yes, benzphetamine is still available as a generic by a prescription from a healthcare professional (HCP).
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                        dosage

                        Benzphetamine dosage forms

                        The average cost for 90 tablets of 50mg of Benzphetamine is $36.15 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 88.8% off the average retail price of $322.64.
                        tablet
                        Tablet
                        DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
                        25mg30 tablets$47.90$1.60
                        50mg90 tablets$36.15$0.40

                        Typical dosing for Benzphetamine

                        The typical starting dose is 25 mg or 50 mg by mouth once per day, preferably in the mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Based on your response, your prescriber might adjust the dose between 25 mg to 50 mg by mouth, one to three times per day.

                        interactions

                        Interactions between Benzphetamine and other drugs

                        Benzphetamine may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Benzphetamine. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

                        Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

                        Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

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                        contraindications-icon

                        Benzphetamine contraindications

                        Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Benzphetamine will not be safe for you to take.
                        alternatives

                        What are alternatives to Benzphetamine?

                        There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Benzphetamine. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
                        Benzphetamine
                        Used for:

                        Short-term treatment for weight management in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater

                        $36.15 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                        Used for:
                        • 30 kg/m^2^ or greater or

                        • 27 kg/m^2^ or greater and at least one weight-related condition (e.g., high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol)

                        $52.90 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                        Used for:
                        $12.82 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                        images

                        Benzphetamine images

                        Peach Round Logo 511 - Benzphetamine Hydrochloride 50mg Tablet
                        This medicine is Peach, Round, Scored Tablet Imprinted With "Logo 511".Peach Round Logo 511 - Benzphetamine Hydrochloride 50mg Tablet

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                        References

                        Best studies we found

                        American Thyroid Association. (n.d.). Hyperthyroidism.

                        Apovian, C. M., et al. (2015). Pharmacological management of obesity: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

                        Benjamin, S., et al. (1961). A controlled clinical comparison of benzphetamine and d-amphetamine in the management of obesity. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

                        View All References (7)
                        GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
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