Pills to Reduce Weight
Fen-Phen Weight Loss Pills Information - Fenfluramine - Dexfenfluramine - Phentermine
Facts About Fen-Phen Diet Pills Information

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Information About Weight Loss Drugs and Diet Supplements

Information About Fen-Phen Diet Pills

What is Fen-Phen?

Fen-phen is the name given to a combination of prescription diet pills - fenfluramine and phentermine - prescribed for use as an appetite suppressant in the management of obesity. Also known as FenPhen, PhenFen, or Phen-Fen.

History of Fen Phen Diet Pills

From 1989 through September 1997, two prescription diet drugs for weight loss were sold in the United States under the brand names Pondimin (fenfluramine) and Redux (dexfenfluramine). Beginning in 1992, physicians commonly prescribed Pondimin in combination with phentermine, another prescription diet drug. Phentermine was, and still is, manufactured by various entities and is distributed and sold under several different brand names. The combination of Pondimin with phentermine was often referred to as "fen-phen." From January 1995 until September 1997 approximately four million persons in the United States took Pondimin. Similarly, from June 1986 through September 1997, two million people in this country used Redux.

Health Problems of Fen-Phen Diet Pills

In early-mid 1997, the Mayo Clinic observed an association between the use of fenfluramine and/or dexfenfluramine and valvular heart disease ("VHD"). On September 15, 1997, the FDA announced that there would be no further sales of Pondimin and Redux in the United States. Since the withdrawal, studies have established a causal relationship between fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine and VHD. Epidemiological studies have also established that fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine cause a fatal disease known as primary pulmonary hypertension ("PPH").

Six Million Users of Fen-Phen Diet Pills

About 6 million people used the fen-phen weight loss drugs combination, and studies have suggested that a fourth of them may have suffered some heart damage. American Home has been sued by thousands of people; a federal judge has given preliminary approval to a $3.75 billion national settlement of such claims.

A study published recently by the Mayo Clinic looked at patients who took the fen-phen cocktail, while a second study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, dealt with people who took dexfenfluramine alone. The studies, as well as one published last week, reached similar conclusions.

Recent Health Studies Into ex-Users of Fen-Phen Diet Pills

A study published recently by the Mayo Clinic looked at patients who took the fen-phen cocktail of weight loss drugs, while a second study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, dealt with people who took dexfenfluramine alone.

The Mayo study looked at a small group - 30 men and women who were participating in a trial of the two drugs that was terminated when the "fen" part of the combination was withdrawn.

Of the 19 people who took fen-phen instead of a placebo, five developed mild valve abnormalities, or 26 percent. But six months after the patients went off the drugs, all five showed improvement, and three no longer appeared to have drug-related valve disease.

Sources include: www.fen-phen-legal-resources.com