AMPHETAMINE-LIKE WEIGHT LOSS PRODUCTS
AMPHETAMINE-LIKE WEIGHT LOSS PRODUCTS
Amphetamines, which were introduced in 1938, rapidly became the most widely used agents for the treatment of obesity in the United States. Amphetamine (Figure ) is a stimulant that causes the release of the neurotransmitter norepinephrinein the brain, which leads to increased metabolism and increased energy expenditure, or burning of calories. Amphetamine is also an appetite suppressant. From the 1940s through the 1960s, individuals took “rainbow pills” for weight loss.
These pills were called “rainbow pills” because of the number of drugs they contained: amphetamine, thyroid hormone, laxatives (to cause diarrhea and decrease food absorption in the gut), and diuretics (to increase urinationand cause loss of water weight). Amphetamine, alone or in combination with other drugs, was very effective in causing weight loss but led to devastating side effects.
AMPHETAMINE
Amphetamine was the original stimulant used to induce weight loss. Although very effective at causing weight loss, amphetamine has many side effects and is highly addictive. Therefore, many substances that are structurally and funtionally similar to amphetamine have been developed or discovered in an attempt to induce weight loss without the negative effects of amphetamine. These drugs, with the exception of phentermine and diethylpropion, have proven to be unsafe and are not recommended by the FDA for weight loss.
The side effects of amphetamine are related to its stimulant effects, especially at high doses and with long-term use. Side effects include irritability, insomnia, confusion, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, seizures, and aggressiveness. Amphetamines cause irreversible destruction of blood vessels in the brain, which can cause stroke—even in young people. These drugs also cause the potentially lethal side effects of increased heart rate, irregular heartbeat, and increased blood pressure. Another problem with amphetamines is that they have a high potential for abuse. Amphetamine is very similar to the compound methamphetamine, which is known on the street today as “speed,” “meth,” or “crank.”
Both amphetamine and methamphetamine are “uppers,” and are highly addictive. Besides causing weight loss, these drugs elevate a person’s mood and cause euphoria, excitement, and ecstasy. People who experience these feelings tend to use the drugs more frequently, and at higher doses, to continue to experience this effect.

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AMPHETAMINE-LIKE WEIGHT LOSS PRODUCTS
The chemical structure of amphetamine and fenfluramine are illustrated here. Fenfluramine (bottom) is a diet pill that is very similar in structure to amphetamine (top). Fenfluramine is an appetite suppressant, like amphetamine, but it does not have stimulant effects. Fenfluramine was proposed as a safer alternative to amphetamine and was very effective in causing weight loss, especially when used in combination with phentermine. Unfortunately, fenfluramine eventually led to devastating side effects, which led to its being withdrawn from the USA market.
Amphetamines are very effective for weight loss but their use is limited by serious side effects and the potential for abuse. Therefore, amphetamine is still FDA approved for other diseases but is no longer permitted for weight loss.Many drugs that are similar to amphetamine have been formulated in an attempt to promote weight loss without causing addiction and dangerous side effects.
Acomplia, Rimonabant, Zimulti What People Say?
MARY SAY
Mary wanted to lose the weight she had gained during her pregnancy with her first child, who was now three years old. She hoped to lose the 30 pounds quickly, since she wanted to look her best when her husband returned in four months from active duty in World War II. Mary’s sister told her all the movie stars were taking rainbow pills, which “worked like magic.” At the corner drugstore, Mary bought a month’s supply of rainbow pills, which came in four beautiful bottles. Within one week of taking these pills, Mary had lost five pounds.She was extremely excited that she could finally meet her weight loss goals. However, Mary began to feel nervous. She also experienced heart palpitations and dizziness when she stood up. She slept less and less. Before long, Mary began to feel that she could not get through the day without taking the pills. As the time of her husband’s arrival drew near, she began to take more and more of her pills, since she was still 10 pounds short of her goal. One week before the day of her husband’s return, Mary passed out at home. Smelling salts would not wake her and a doctor pronounced her dead one hour later. The rainbow pills Mary had taken to lose weight caused her heart to race faster and faster, until eventually it simplystopped working.
Fenfluramine and Dexfenfluramine
Fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine were marketed under the brand names Redux® and Pondimin®, respectively. Fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine are chemically similar to amphetamine, but they work differently in the body. These drugs exert their effects by increasing the release of serotonin (a neurotransmitter) in the brain, leading to appetite suppression. Fenfluramine (“fen”) and dexfenfluramine (“dexfen”) were prescription appetite suppressants that had been approved by the FDA for the short-term management of obesity. A landmark study completed in 1992 showed that fenfluramine, when combined with the weight-loss drug phentermine, was very effective for weight loss over the short term.
The study results were widely reported, and they led to a surge in popularity of fenfluramine and phentermine. This drug combination, called “fen-phen,” was very effective and proved far more effective than either drug used alone. The combination of dexfenfluramine and phentermine (“dexfen-phen”) had similar effects on weight loss. The FDA never approved the use of these drugs together, however. The drugs, individually or together, were not intended to be used for longer than three months.
Initially, fen-phen was thought to be free of serious side effects. Short-term studies showed the main side effects to be tiredness and diarrhea, and these side effects went away as time passed and the body got used to the drugs. It was known that the “fen-phen” and “dexfen-phen” regimens led to rare cases of heart, lung, and nerve damage when used for a long time. Unfortunately, many doctors continued to prescribe these combinations for long-term use. This allowed patients who wanted to lose weight—often for cosmetic rather than health reasons—to do so and maintain the weight loss.
Many people stayed on the “fen-phen” or “dexfen-phen” regimens far longer than the recommended three months to Diet Pills: The Post continue or maintain their weight loss. Serious, life-threatening side effects became evident with long-term use of these combinations. Patients developed a lung disease called primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), heart valve disease, and other conditions that were irreversible and in some cases life-threatening. PPH is a serious, permanent lung condition that can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, and death. A study investigating the link between fenfluramine and PPH concluded that patients using the diet drugs for longer than three months were 23 times more likely to develop PPH. These horrible effects were attributed mainly to fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine, and eventually the FDA banned these drugs from the market. Phentermine is still available for weight loss. It will be discussed in Chapter
The most startling and damaging news regarding “fen-phen” and “dexfen-phen” came when the Mayo Clinic, in June 1997, reported 24 cases of heart valve damage in “fen-phen” users. Individuals in the study used “fen-phen” for an average of 12 months, well exceeding the recommended three months. Fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine caused leakage in the heart valves. The mitral and aortic valves, which control blood flow through part of the heart, were most affected. Valve leakage prevents the heart from pumping effectively. In five cases, patients required open heart valve surgery.
After many health problems and deaths, the FDA removed Pondimin and Redux from market. Since then, there have been 200 reported cases of primary pulmonary hypertension relating to “fen-phen” and “dexfen-phen.” Of those cases, 40 have resulted in death. The FDA has received more than 100 reports of heart valve damage directly related to “fen-phen” or fenfluramine therapy; there are no reports from individuals taking phentermine alone for weight loss.
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