Appetite Suppressant Drugs

The use of appetite suppressant drugs is rather popular because they seem to achieve very fast short term weight reductions. However the long-term results are usually poor, if no behavioural change takes place.

Most appetite suppressant medication is very similar to amphetamines. So there is a major risk of tolerance and misuse of these drugs. More...

Any use should be strictly restricted to short-term medication (6-12 weeks), combined with change of eating behavior, exercise and behavioural therapy. However most patients tend to abuse this medication and take it without consulting their doctors.

Possible short-term side effects include a dry mouth, irritability, blurred vision or stomach upset. Due to the stimulating effect a raise of heart rate and blood pressure is expected.

Avoid phentermine if you have a history of anxiety disorder, heart problems, high blood pressure, glaucoma, thyriod disorders, epilepsy or antidepressant medication with MAO-inhibitors (MAOI). Any use of appetite suppressant medication during pregnancy or nursing should be avoided.

Most appetite suppressant drugs were withdrawn from the market (fenfluramine and dexfenfluarim) after severe side-effects (heart-valve deterioration) occurred for patients using a combination of fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine or fenfluramine and phentermine. More