The following article is the truth about Fen-Phen and Phentermine, straight from the horse’s mouth. Taken from phentermine.com, this article outlines the difference between Fen-Phen and phentermine and other important information surrounding the infamous Fen-Phen lawsuit.

Fen-Phen refers to the combination, or cocktail, of Fenfluramine or Pondimin (the “Fen”) and Phentermine (the “Phen”). Fenfluramine received FDA approval in 1973 for the short-term treatment of obesity. Together, Phentermine and Fenfluramine produced a powerful diet drug cocktail.

The FDA never approved the Fen-Phen combination, but once the agency has approved a drug, doctors may prescribe it at will. Their use, together, was considered “off-label”.

In 1992, Dr. Michael Weintraub of the University of Rochester and several colleagues published a study citing Fen-Phen as a more effective method than dieting or exercise in reducing the weight of the chronically obese. Even better – Fen-Phen, unlike an earlier generation of speed-laden diet drugs, seemed to be without immediate side effects.

The Fen-Phen cocktail became an overnight sensation. 1996 saw 6.6 million prescriptions of Fen-Phen in the U.S.

Dexfen-Phen refers to the combination, or cocktail, of Dexfenfluramine or Redux (the “Dexfen”) and Phentermine (the “Phen”). Dexfenfluramine received FDA approved in 1996 for use as an appetite suppressant in the management of obesity.

Like Fen-Phen, Dexfen-Phen, too, became an overnight sensation.

Neither combination, however, was ever tested for safety ….

By the summer of 1997, the Mayo Clinic reported 24 cases of heart valve disease. All 24 people had taken the Fen-Phen cocktail. The cluster of unusual cases of heart valve disease in Fen-Phen users suggested a co-relation between Fen-Phen use and heart valve disease.

On July 8, 1997 the FDA issued a Public Health Advisory to report the Mayo findings (which were later published in the August 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine). Please click here to read the FDA Health Advisory.

The FDA continued to received additional reports of heart disease, including reports from patients who had taken only Fenfluramine or Dexfenfluramine.

Further evaluations of patients taking Fenfluramine or Dexfenfluramine, showed that approximately 30% had abnormal valve findings. This figure is much higher than expected for abnormal test results and suggest Fenfluramine and Dexfenfluramine as the likely causes of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) and valvular heart disease.

The FDA responded promptly to the alarming findings, and in September 1997, requested drug manufacturers to voluntarily withdraw Fenfluramine and Dexfenfluramine. At the same time, the FDA recommended that patients using either Fenfluramine or Dexfenfluramine stop taking them. To view the FDA September 1997 statement regarding the withdrawals, please click here.

The FDA did not, however, request the withdrawal of the third drug involved in the cocktails, Phentermine.

There are many different drug names, blends, and strengths of the diet pill phentermine. Phentermine 37.5mg is the strongest does of phentermine that is manufactured. It also requires a prescription.

Phentermine is also sold in 30 mg, 15g, and 8 mg tablets. Additionally, sometimes phentermine is blended with other drugs. Most notably is phentermine HCL, or phentermine hydrocholoride. Phentermine HCL brand name is Adipex – P.

There are generic phentermine pills available, but they do not have a name. These generic brands are available in phentermine 15 mg, phentermine 30mg, and phentermine 37.5 mg. This is a website that shows pictures of what those pills look like.

Many people want to be able to buy phentermine 30 and phentermine 37.5 without prescription. This is possible through online pharmacies. However, buying diet pills online can be dangerous and possibly illegal. Please read my other articles about online pharmacies.

People are also curious what the phentermine 37.5 side effects are. Please read this about the side effects of this diet pill. They can be fatal, so it is important to be under a doctor’s care and be aware of what you are putting in your body.

There are many benefits and reasons why it is so popular to buy phentermine online.  In order to decide if phentermine is right for you, then you must have all the information available to make an educated decision.

It is actually a central nervous system stimulant, and behaves similarly to amphetamines.  Obviously, we all know that amphetamines can be dangerous and addictive.  This is why it is important to take phentermine under a doctor’s care and to take it safely.

If you have any heart or blood pressure problems, please do not consider taking a product such as phentermine.  As a stimulant you can expect an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.

It is also extremely vital that you are honest with your prescribing physician so that the physician may evaluate whether or not you are a good candidate.  Physicians should know everything about their patients health history including any thyroid problems, heart problems, depression, other prescriptions, etc.

It also important that all people who take buy phentermine online are consider clinically obese.  Phentermine is not a solution for those who just want to lose a few pounds.

If your weight and health history make you a good candidate for phentermine, the benefits can be great.  Benefits include a speed up in your metabolism.  Everyone knows that many people have metabolism issues which contribute to weight gain and also make it difficult to lose weight.

Also, phentermine will give you increased alertness and energy.  This can help you get through your day without getting tired or sleepy.  This will also give you the energy to get to the gym and burn those calories!

Obviously, the main benefit and reason to buy phentermine online is to use it as an appetite suppressant.  This will help you not be hungry which means you eat less.

The key to weight loss is to eat less calories than you are burning.  Phentermine is a pill that increases metabolism, gives you the energy to work out and burn calories, and suppresses the cravings to eat calories.  This means that it could play a very important part in helping the obese jump start their diets.

When taken under the care of a hysician and used with diet and exercise. phentermine can be an effective, though temporary, weight loss solution.

The following information was retrieved from phentermine’s official website.

Phentermine accounts for 50% of all prescribed prescription appetite suppressants. Part of this reason is because it’s significantly cheaper than the other major FDA-approved diet drugs, Meridia and Xenical.

Phentermine first received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1959 as an appetite suppressant for the short-term treatment of obesity.

Phentermine resin became available in the United States in 1959 and Phentermine Hydrochloride in the early 1970s.

In the US, Phentermine is currently sold under the brand names Ionamin® (Medeva Pharmaceuticals) and Adipex-P® (Gate Pharmaceuticals). It is also available as a generic medication, known as ‘phentermine’.

Previously, it was sold under the name Fastin® (formerly produced by King Pharmaceuticals for SmithKline Beecham). In December 1998, SK-Beecham withdrew Fastin from the market.

As Phentermine is an older drug, no new efficacy trials have been conducted. The one notable exception, are several trials on the combination of Phentermine and Fenfluramine in the early and mid 1990s.

Phen-Pro

The newest cocktail involving Phentermine is “Phen-Pro” – the “Pro” standing for Prozac. Any one of the following antidepressants: Zoloft, Celexa, Luvox, Trazadone or Effexor may be used in lieu of Prozac.

The use of the antidepressant in the Phen-Pro cocktail is unrelated to depression. The cocktail is necessary because the effects of Phentermine, when used alone, lessen over time. The Phen-Pro cocktail enables Phentermine to work better and for a longer period of time. The cocktail does not appear to cause the problems that resulted from the usage of Fen-Phen.

The combination of Phentermine and Prozac is considered an “off-label” use, meaning that the FDA, who often voice concerns regarding the mixing/combining of medications, does not approve it. However, once the agency has approved a drug, doctors may prescribe it at will.

It is always advisable that you seriously research any prescription drugs that you take. It is important that you are aware of the products that you are putting into your body. While there are many concerns related to the use of diet pills, they can be beneficial to help jump start your weight loss. So take the time to learn about the pills before you take them. And be aware that diet pills are not a long term solution to weight loss.