1. The Fen in Fen-Phen
Fenfluramine is one of many types of weight-loss drugs that are designed to suppress the appetite by increasing the supply of serotonin to the body. This particular class of diet pills is often combined with appetite suppressors that work with another neurotransmitter called norepinephrine and show remarkable weight-loss results but with some dangerous side effects. Two popular serotonin-enhancing drugs, fenfluramine and dexfenfluamine, were taken off the market in 1997, as they cause pulmonary hypertension and severely damage the heart valves, causing heart attack and even death.
2. The Phen in Fen-Phen
Phentermine is the most popular partner in crime to fenfluramine. Not only is phentermine one type of weight loss pill that works to suppress appetite by releasing more norepinephrine to the body, it is also a powerful stimulant. Phentermine, while carrying its own side effects, such as headaches, nervousness, mood swings and insomnia, is still available and used to treat obesity. However, the long-term effects of phentermine is still questionably dangerous; therefore, treatment is limited to only a few weeks at a time.
3. The Billion-Dollar Drug With a Deadly Price
With more than one-third of the country overweight, weight-loss drugs and diet pills are a multi-billion-dollar industry. Fen-phen was an incredibly popular combination, as it seemed like the miracle cure for obesity, allowing weight loss up to three times faster than traditional diet and exercise methods and up to two times faster than other weight-loss drugs. Unfortunately, large numbers of people who enjoyed the weight-loss benefits of fen-phen paid with their heart health or even their lives.
4. The Saga Continues
Unfortunately, when a drug therapy shows amazing weight-loss results like that of fen-phen, those suffering from obesity are willing to risk the consequences, while others are willing to reap the financial benefits. Herbal "fen-phen" is now available on the open market and is far more easy to obtain than prescription fen-phen ever was, as you don't need a doctor's approval. Not only that, it is far more affordable, costing just a fraction of the cost of prescription weight-loss pills.
5. Herbal Does Not Mean Safe
Most combinations of herbal "fen-phen" are a mixture of the mood-enhancing herb Saint John's Wort and a stimulant called Ma Huang, whose effective ingredient is ephedra. While herbal "fen-phen" provides between 40 and 60 mg of ephedrine per day, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that more than 24 mg taken for longer than a week can cause serious health risks.
Member Comments