As informed by the FDA, phentermine carries safety considerations, particularly for pregnant women, as it can cause fetal harm and an increased risk of oral clefts. Therefore, professionals ask patients to “undergo pregnancy testing before starting treatment, use effective contraception during treatment, and have regular pregnancy tests. Due to the risk of birth defects, Qsymia is only available through a restricted program called the Qsymia Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy.”