- Amphetamines, or speed, were the only medication available for weight loss throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Amphetamines were first developed in Germany in 1887. Used in treatment of various conditions, including schizophrenia, opiate addiction, and head injuries, its use as a weight loss medication was an afterthought. Using amphetamines for weight loss was discontinued due to addiction concerns and other medical problems.
- In 1972, a new weight loss drug, fenfluramine, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss. In 1997, fenfluramine and its related drugs were removed from the world market because of severe, and sometimes fatal, side effects. In some cases, fenfluramine damaged heart valves and sometimes resulted in pulmonary hypertension.
- Dexenfluramine was introduced into the U.S. market in 1996 under the brand name Redux. The FDA removed it from the market in 1997 along with fenfluramine due to similar health concerns. Dexenfluramine worked by inhibiting the uptake of serotonin, thus suppressing the appetite for carbohydrates.
- A combination of phentermine with fenfluramine is a recent introduction as a weight loss aid, in spite of fenfluramine not being approved on its own as a weight loss drug. Although phentermine has been available since the 1960s, its combination with fenfluramine as a prescription diet aid wasn't approved until the mid-1990s. This drug combination works by stimulating a number of neurotransmitters and the hypothalamus gland to suppress appetite.
- Sibutramine is the most recent drug approved for weight loss. Sold under the brand name Meridia, it works by increasing the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and serotonin to suppress appetite. Sibutramine is always prescribed with a doctor recommended reduced calorie diet and, sometimes, an exercise program. Although side effects are rare, they can include chills, irregular heartbeat and increases in blood pressure. In some cases, Sibutramine can cause clinical depression.
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