What Are The Side Effects Of Phenmetrazine?

Phenmetrazine and its analog phendimetrazine are stimulant drugs prescribed for suppressing appetite and increasing weight loss. Both are listed as controlled substances by the Food and Drug Administration. These drugs are similar in structure to amphetamines and can produce amphetamine-like side effects; however they are much less potent than an amphetamine.

Appetite Suppressant

Phenmetrazine and phendimetrazine, like other drugs of the amphetamine class increase the release of chemical messengers in the brain. These messengers are norepinphrine and dopamine. It is not known how these drugs inhibit centers in the hypothalamus that control appetite. Many older studies published before 1960 do provide evidence that phenmetrazine is an effective appetite suppressant and significantly increases weight loss even in children without causing significant side effects, according to a 1960 report published in the "British Medical Journal." However, these drugs are banned in many countries and are not often prescribed anymore because of their potential for abuse. An article on UBM Medica reported that people who take phendimetrazine rapidly develop resistance to its appetite suppressant effects and weight loss decreases after just a few weeks of taking the drug.

Stimulant Side Effects

Phenmetrazine and phendimetrazine were originally developed to suppress appetite without causing the side effects associated with amphetamines; however overdoses of these drugs can cause the typical symptoms of amphetamine overdose including restlessness, confusion, panic, fatigue, depression, hypertension, nausea, vomiting and cardiovascular collapse. These drugs should never be taken in combination with other stimulants, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors because of the increased risk for acute cardiovascular events.

Serious Side Effects

A case report in the journal "Stroke" reported that the stimulant drugs, phentermine and phendimetrazine may be associated with the occurrence of a stroke. Another research report in "The American Journal of Therapeutics" reported a case of muscle injury in a woman taking phendimetrazine. Other serious side effects that have been reported in individuals taking phenmetrazine or phendimetrazine are heart muscle damage, pulmonary hypertension and kidney failure. Amphetamines in general have additionally been reported to cause severe hypertension, hyperthyroidism and glaucoma.

Abuse

Phenmetrazine has been used as a recreational drug in many countries, including the United States. A review published in the "Schaffer Library of Drug Policy" purported that phenmetrazine induces euphoria and has the potential for recurrent abuse.