Anorectic Drugs

What are Anorectic Drugs?

An anorectic or anorexic (from the Greek an- = “without” and orexis = “appetite”), also known as anorexigenic or appetite suppressant, is a dietary supplement and/or drug which reduces appetite, food consumption, and as a result, causes weight loss to occur.

Used on a short-term basis clinically to treat obesity, some appetite suppressants are also available over-the-counter. In the United States, appetite suppressants do not have to be approved by the FDA when they are based on a 100% natural basis. There are all kinds of natural appetite suppressants (supplements) on the market, helping people to control and limit their food intake.

Drugs of this class are frequently stimulants of the phenethylamine family, related to amphetamine (informally known as speed). Many amphetamines produce side effects, including addiction, tachycardia and hypertension, making prolonged unsupervised use dangerous. Epidemics of fatal pulmonary hypertension and heart valve damage associated with pharmaceutical anorectic agents have led to the withdrawal of many of these products from the market.

A number of drugs have been developed and marketed to replace amphetamines as appetite suppressants- otherwise referred to as diet pills. These anorectic drugs include:

•benzphetamine (Didrex)
•diethylproprion (Tenuate, Tepanil)
•fenfluramine (Pondimin)
•mazindol (Sanorex, Mazanor)
•phendimetrazine (Bontril, Prelu-2, Plegine)
•phentermine (Ionamin, AdipexP)

These pills are available in prescription form as well as on the black or illicit market, you can also buy them without a prescription. They are marketed as diet pills.They are available in pill and capsule form and are swallowed or taken orally.

There have been many health problems reported with the use and drug abuse of anorectic drugs. The combinations fenfluranime and dexfenfluramine were removed from availability in the United States because of a health connection to heart valve problems.

These pills are often abused by the user, resulting in improper nutrition and excessive weight loss. They can be particularly dangerous when mixed with other drug or substances such as alcohol. This type of drug abuse is typically dangerous to women of all ages, especially teen age girls who’s bodies are still growing.