No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/*drug therapy/*etiology ; Phentermine/*adverse effects/*therapeutic use

The phentermine, an appetite suppressant, has been widely applied in Korea since 2004. However, there have been relatively few reports about the efficacy and the safety of phentermine in Korea. The aim of this study is to verify the effect of phentermine on weight reduction and the safety in Korean patients. This randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled study had been performed between February and July, 2005, in Seoul on 68 relatively healthy obese adults whose body mass index was 25 kg/m2 or greater. They received phentermine-HCl 37.5 mg or placebo once daily with behavioral therapy for obesity. The primary endpoints were the changes of body weight and waist circumference from the baseline in the intention-to-treat population. Mean decrease of both body weight and waist circumference in phentermine-treated subjects were significantly greater than that of placebo group (weight: -6.7 +/- 2.5 kg, p < 0.001; waist circumference: -6.2 +/- 3.5 cm, p < 0.001). Significant number of subjects in phentermine group accomplished weight reduction of 5% or greater from the baseline and 10% or more (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the groups (p = 0.122 for systolic BP; p = 0.219 for diastolic BP). Dry mouth and insomnia were the only statistically significant adverse events that occurred more frequently in phentermine group. Most side effects of phentermine were mild to moderate in intensity. Short-term phentermine administration induced significant weight reduction and reduction of waist circumference without clinically problematic adverse events on relatively healthy Korean obese people.
Weight Loss/*drug effects ; Risk Factors ; Phentermine/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Obesity/*drug therapy ; Male ; Korea ; Humans ; Female ; Double-Blind Method ; Appetite Depressants/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Adult

Weight-control drugs (known as anorexigens) such as fenfluramine have been linked with pulmonary hypertension in previous reports. In our case, a 29 year old woman was admitted for shortness of breath and was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. Three months ago, she had been taking phentermine for five weeks. Other factors that might have contributed to the development of pulmonary hypertension were excluded. With treatment, her symptoms improved. This is the first case that can suggest a possible connection between phenermine single medication with pulmonary hypertension. Phentermine has been considered a relatively safe drug to treat obesity, and further investigation is needed to decide the safety and dosage of phentermine.
Adult ; Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use ; Electrocardiography/methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/*drug therapy/*etiology ; Models, Chemical ; Obesity/drug therapy ; Phentermine/*adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Radiography, Thoracic/methods ; Safety ; Sulfonamides/therapeutic use