Fenfluramine, an amphetamine used for weight loss, was popular in the 70s and 80s but was withdrawn from the market in the late 90s due to health problems. It caused short-term side effects such as depression and diarrhea, and long-term weight gain after use. The combination of fenfluramine and phentermine, known as Fen-phen, caused serious heart conditions, leading to its withdrawal. Herbal versions claiming to produce the same results are not effective.
Fenfluramine is an amphetamine used to control obesity that was introduced to the market in the early 1970s under the brand names Pondimin, Ponderax, and Adifax. It quickly became one of the most popular weight loss drugs of the day due to its claimed effectiveness. In combination with another weight loss drug, it remained popular until its withdrawal from the market in the late 1990s due to evidence of health problems in users. Users and doctors claim that they only have a fair effect on long-term weight loss, and the consequences of side effects far outweighed the benefits. It is important to note that those who used the drug gradually regained weight after use was stopped.
The compound 3-trifluoromethyl-N-ethylamphetamine works in the brain performing different functions to trick the neurological system into weight loss. The chemical, fenfluramine, is an anorectic that releases an elevated amount of serotonin into a person’s system and suppresses the user’s appetite. The amphetamine in the combination helps to increase the metabolic rate so that the user burns calories faster, which also helps in weight loss.
People who took the drug experienced several unpleasant short-term side effects from using the diet pill. Increased serotonin levels can have serious effects on mood, with many users experiencing mild to severe depression. They complained of melancholy and sleepiness, while many felt sedated. Another unpleasant side effect of the drug for users was diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
Shortly after the introduction of fenfluramine, it was combined with another popular weight loss drug known as phentermine. The combination of the two drugs, called Fen-phen, was supposed to nullify the side effects of the other. Side effects of phentermine included difficulty sleeping, nervousness, irritability, and agitation. The combination of these two drugs proved problematic for several people mainly because of the fenfluramine.
In July 1997, the Mayo Clinic published a report stating that 24 patients taking Fen-phen developed serious heart conditions. After the report was published, more cases of pulmonary hypertension and cardiac fibrosis had been discovered around the world. The US Food and Drug Administration ordered the drug to be withdrawn from the market, and users filed a class action lawsuit for the health damages caused by the drug. Since the removal, herbal versions claiming to produce the same results as fenfluramine are also being sold on the market, but are not considered effective.
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