248 Mazindol
cancer patients. Researchers believe mazindol can aid sufferers from Parkin-
son’s disease. A case is reported of the drug acting as an aphrodisiac in a
human female. The compound can reduce cholesterol levels.
Drawbacks.Mazindol increases pulse rate, may cause hallucinations, and
disrupts sleep. In one study users complained of headache, skin rash, dry
mouth, perspiration, tremor in heart and other muscles, nausea, and difficult
urination and bowel movements. Users also report being wired, edgy, and
dizzy. In human males mazindol can make the testes painful, interfere with
erection and ejaculation, and cause urine retention. The latter effect has been
exploited to treat incontinence. Mazindol may interfere with production of
human growth hormone, a consideration when juveniles take the drug. When
tested as a treatment for schizophrenia the drug at best had no effect and even
worsened some symptoms. A medical journal article published in 2000 linked
mazindol to pulmonary hypertension, the first time such an association was
reported. Earlier reports noted development of heart disorder after taking ma-
zindol in combination with fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine, but such afflic-
tion has been attributed to those latter two drugs by themselves, so mazindol’s
role is uncertain.
Abuse factors.In rhesus monkey experiments the animals show a liking for
mazindol, but a review of clinical studies found no instances of patients be-
coming addicted. Although reports exist of mazindol inducing euphoria, hu-
man users show no particular liking for the drug. Volunteers comparing
several diet drugs found mazindol to have the least appeal by far. Scientists
evaluating another experimental study of the drug described it as a “punisher”
that persons wanted to avoid.
Drug interactions.Researchers say mazindol andalcoholhave a multiplier
effect when used together, boosting each other’s potency and producing an
extra buzz for recreational users. Mazindol interferes with somecocaineef-
fects, but studies examining mazindol’s potential for treating cocaine addiction
find a placebo to be about as good. One study even found the two drugs to
have a hazardous multiplier effect raising blood pressure and pulse rate, and
rat experiments find that mazindol reduces the size of a cocaine dose needed
to cause death. Mazindol can react adversely with antimania drug lithium and
can counteract drugs intended to lower blood pressure.
Cancer.Laboratory experiments show mazindol promoting cell mutations
and chromosome breaks (traditional signs of cancer-causing potential), but
that finding’s real-life meaning is unclear.
Pregnancy.The drug’s influence on fetal development is unestablished.
Whether the drug passes into milk of nursing mothers is unknown. Doses that
kill female rats while pregnant or after giving birth can leave males and non-
pregnant females unscathed. Whether such findings mean that pregnancy in-
creases human sensitivity to the drug is unknown.
Additional scientific information may be found in:Alvarez, B., et al. “Mazindol in Long-Term Treatment of Narcolepsy.”Lancet337 (1991):
1293–94.
Bierger, P., F. Gawin, and T.R. Kosten. “Treatment of Cocaine Abuse with Mazindol.”
Lancet1 (1989): 283.