History of phentermine

Phentermine was introduced in the early 1950's as an effective anti-obesity drug. Since its introduction, Phentermine was able to dominate the market for diet pills which according to studies could reached as high as 50% of all weight loss prescriptions in the US. It received the approval of the US Food and Drug Administration in 1959 as an appetite suppressant intended for the treatment of obesity but only for short term treatments.

The first kind of Phentermine distributed in the US was the Phentermine resin but a new type was introduced in the early 1970's, the Phentermine Hydrochloride. Phentermine becomes the standard pill for weight loss for more than 50 years. This is a proof that the drug really works for many people especially when used to treat obesity. Another major factor why Phentermine was able to outdo other weight loss pills is the cost effectiveness of the drug. It is cheaper than the other types of FDA-approved diet pills like Xenical and Meridia.

Although Phentermine became popular as a weight loss medication, there were side effects associated with the use of the drug. Some side effects are well tolerated but other serious health risks can happen to people using Phentermine. People having high blood pressure, diabetes, allergies, overactive thyroid, glaucoma and pregnant women are not advised to take this drug because of possible complications. The recommendation of the US Food and Drug Administration for Phentermine use is only up to 12 weeks. It should also be accompanied by proper dieting and light to moderate exercises.

The first popular brand of Phentermine was Fastin produced by King Pharmaceuticals for SmithKline Beecham. However in 1998 it was pulled out from the market due to reported severe complications suffered by some users. Other brand names such as Ionamin and Adipex-P were also introduced. Right now generic versions of Phentermine are widely available in most pharmacies. New pharmaceutical companies also developed their own versions of Phentermine.

The only setback of this drug is the lack of clinical studies when it was first introduced in the market. Although it was effective in treating obesity, there was little information on its efficacy and safety. It was only in 1990 when several clinical trials were conducted on the use of Phentermine and other weight loss drugs. The introduction of fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine which is also known as Fen-Phen became a hit in the 1990's. People who used the Fen-Phen combination achieved better results. Fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine were both approved by the FDA. However, a study conducted by the Mayo clinic revealed that the combination of the 3 drugs can lead to serious heart valve disease.

The FDA issued warnings as a precaution in using the combination of these weight loss drugs. But the continued reports of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) and valvular heart disease prompted the agency to request the manufacturers to discontinue the sale of these products. However, Phentermine was not included in the request for pull out since there is no conclusive evidence that the drug caused the diseases.

Today, several Phentermine brands are competing in the weight loss market. Some doctors are also mixing or combining the drug with other prescription drugs to achieve faster results.