1990's Diet Drug Dangers

In the United States, the pressure to be thin gained ground in the early 1990's. The public had steered clear of diet drugs that aided in weight loss through appetite suppression since the amphetamine-like diet drug craze of the 1950's and 60's. However, with the introduction of diet aids such as Fen-phen at a time when the average American waistline was growing, a svelte, thin body became suddenly accessible with the daily popping of a pill.

In the late 1980's and early 1990's, Fen-phen was introduced to the market. Composed of fenfluramine and phentermine, the drug combined appetite suppressant qualities with stimulant qualities, so users would feel simultaneously awake and satiated. Fen-phen triggered serotonin release in the brain, the neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of physical satiation, including hunger and thirst. In 1996, a modified version of Fen-phen, called Redux, was released into the United States market for the short term management of obesity.

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However, after a study performed by Mayo Clinic in 1997, both products were pulled from the market after they were linked to heart valve damage and the development of primary pulmonary hypertension. Primary pulmonary hypertension is a chronic disease characterized by an increase in blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, which is the vessel leading from the heart to the lungs. With primary pulmonary hypertension, the blood transported is oxygen deprived, creating additional stress on the heart and body, which needs oxygen saturated blood to function properly. As of 2004, Fen-phen is no longer widely available. In February 2005, the magazine American Lawyer published an article about the 50,000 product liability lawsuits resulting from Fen-phen. Estimates of total liability run as high as billion.

If you have ever taken one of these drugs, it is recommended to consult your physician about performing tests to measure for possible heart valve damage. If damage has occurred, medication can help. For more severe cases, surgical replacement of the valves may be necessary. For patients with primary pulmonary hypertension from Fen-phen consumption, several treatment options exist, although no cures are currently available. Medications, such as vasodilators, anticoagulants, and calcium channel blockers, can help patients with less advanced cases. In addition, supplemental oxygen can greatly improve a patient's energy level and overall sense of well being. For serious patients, lung and heart transplants may be necessary.

1990's Diet Drug Dangers

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