Diethylpropion
Pronunciation:dye-eth-ill-PROH-pee-on
Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number:90-84-6. (Hydrochloride form 134-
80-5)
Formal Names:Adiposan, Amfepramone, Anfamon, Apisate, Bonumin, Brendalit,
Dietic, Dietil-Retard, DIP, Dobesin, Frekentine, Lineal-Rivo, Linea-Valeas, Li-
pomin, Liposlim, Magrene, Moderatan, M-Orexic, Nobesine, Nulobes, Prefa-
mone, Propion, Regenon, Regibon, Slim-plus, Tenuate, Tenuate Dospan,
Tepanil
Informal Names:Blues
Type:Stimulant (anorectic class).Seepage 15
Federal Schedule Listing:Schedule IV (DEA no. 1610)
USA Availability:Prescription
Pregnancy Category:B
Uses.Humans find the drug’s effects similar to those ofdextroamphetamine
but at a weaker level. One experiment found dextroamphetamine 6 to 11 times
stronger than diethylpropion when given orally, 10 to 20 times stronger when
given by subcutaneous injection. Although diethylpropion was created in the
1920s, this amphetamine derivative was not marketed for weight loss until
around 1960. The drug then achieved great popularity. Over 30 million per-
sons around the globe had taken the drug by 1978. That year 1.5 billion pre-
scriptions were written, but the number dropped to just one-fourth that
amount by 1988 as the medical world became more aware of the drug’s draw-
backs.
Occasional short-term usage rather than continual use has been recom-
mended. The compound breaks up sleep and interferes with dreaming but
has fewer stimulant effects than some other anorectics. Users feel less fatigue
than withfenfluramine, and undesirable effects of diethylpropion disappear
faster than those of fenfluramine when the drug is stopped. Studies of weight
loss patients using diethylpropion found only trivial impact on heart rate or
blood pressure, and the compound is considered a good choice for patients
with high blood pressure.
Diethylpropion has been used experimentally to reduce craving forcocaine,
with some success. Some researchers question that finding, however, pointing
out that craving for cocaine diminishes in a hospital setting regardless of