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Fen Phen Phentermine Side Effects

Fen-phen was a prescription medication that combined two drugs, fenfluramine ("fen") and phentermine ("phen"). The function of fen-phen was to increase amounts of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the body. Serotonin regulates both the mood and appetite, and helps create a false sense of fullness and appetite loss in an individual. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) withdrew fen-phen from the United States market in 1997 due to reports of fatalities from conditions such as cardiac fibrosis and heart valve disease. There were a lot of negative side effects associated with fen-phen and phentermine.

  1. Common Side Effects

    • Some common side effects associated with fen-phen are fast heartbeat, sleeplessness, heart issues, increased blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, nervousness and anxiety. These side effects are for fen-phen as a medication, which includes both phentermine and fenfluramine.

    Phentermine

    • Some common side effects of phentermine alone include sex drive changes, bad tastes in the mouth, digestive issues, headache, dizziness, overstimulation, hyperactivity, restlessness, upset stomach, dry mouth, impotence, nervousness, anxiety and an exaggerated sense of well-being.

    Severe Side Effects

    • Fen-phen has been linked to a lot of dangerous heart conditions, such as primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). This disease is caused by the narrowing of the blood vessels in the lungs. This disease can lead to heart failure and sometimes fatality. Some symptoms of PPH include fatigue, severe chest pain, swelling of the ankles, fainting spells, weakness and shortness of breath.

    Severe Phentermine Side Effects

    • Some potentially more dangerous side effects of phentermine are allergic reactions like itching, rash, hives, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, and swelling of the face, lips, tongue or mouth as well as fast heartbeat, chest pounding, strange behavior, tremors and shakiness.

    Warning

    • There are some drugs that were contraindicated with use of fen-phen. For individuals taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, fen-phen was a drug contraindication. It is forbidden to administer an individual fen-phen for up to 14 days after receiving MAO inhibitors (this could lead to hypertension issues).

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