Information on Fenfluramine Diet Pills
Fenfluramine is a weight loss drug that is classified under anorectics as this is known to help reduce hunger. It was introduced to the market back in the early 1970s under different brand names including Ponderax, Pondimin, and Adifax. With its effectiveness during its release, it easily became one of the most popular weight loss drugs that time.
How it Works
This weight loss drug has the compound 3-trifluoromethyl-N-ethylamphetamine. This compound works to help in losing weight by fooling the body’s neurological system. It releases an increased amount of serotonin in the body, which works to suppress the appetite.
The compound has also amphetamine that works to increase a person’s metabolic rate, which allows the user to burn calories faster resulting to a more effective and faster weight loss.
Undesirable Side Effects
However, in line with the process of helping a person lose weight, Fenfluramine can cause several unpleasant side effects to the user. For instance, the increased level of serotonin in the body can greatly affect the mood, which results in mild to severe depression. Some people feel sedated while others feel sadness and drowsiness when taking this weight loss drug. Besides this, users also report that this diet pill can cause abdominal cramps, diarrhea, blurred vision, dizziness, confusion, fatigue, muscle pain, eye problems, and dry mouth.
Moreover, a study has shown that Fenfluramine can cause birth defects on the fetus if taken by pregnant women. Some defects a baby can get out of exposure to Fenfluramine are limb abnormalities, inguinal hernia, clubfoot, ventricular septal defect, and cardiomyopathy. There are some instances that the use of Fenfluramine can lead to miscarriage.
Fenfluramine and Phentermine
The effectiveness of Fenfluramine has made it a sensation all over the world. In fact, in the 90s, Fenfluramine is combined with Phentermine so as to achieve faster weight loss results when treating obesity. The combination, which was later called Fen-Phen, has become a hit.
However, Phentermine and Fenfluramine combination can bring adverse side effects to users including depression and irregular heartbeat.
The Withdrawal of Fenfluramine
In 1997, Fenfluramine was withdrawn from the U.S. market as per the order of the Food and Drug Administration This is due to reports of its serious side effects on adult people including heart valve disease, pulmonary hypertension, and cardiac fibrosis. A study of 5,743 former Fenfluramine users had found out that the drug’s damage to the heart valve has long continued even after stopping the medication. With the very alarming results, Fenfluramine was pulled out not only in the U.S. but also all over the world.
More Facts on Fenfluramine
Fenfluramine use is usually recommended at 20 mg three times a day when beginning treatment and can be increased to 40 mg thrice daily after a few weeks. The pill must be taken an hour before every meal. However, in any case unwanted results happen, Fenfluramine use must be stopped.
Like any other drug, Fenfluramine can have adverse effects in certain health conditions. It must not be taken by people who are using medication for depression, glaucoma, cardiovascular disease, severe hypertension, and thyrotoxicosis. Also, this drug must not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding as well as children under the age of 12.
And since this drug has a lot of risks including side effects and dependency, it was only taken under the supervision of a physician. The right dosage must be followed to decrease chances of getting side effects.
However, with the serious side effects and other issues related to Fenfluramine use, this diet pill was pulled out from the market and leaving Phentermine the lead in fighting obesity.
