370 Phendimetrazine
is therefore considered addictive. In an experiment using rhesus monkeys to
measure phendimetrazine’s addictive potential, however, the test animals in-
dicated no interest in it. This same study showed the drug having about 10%
to 20% ofdextroamphetamine’s potency.
Drug interactions.Drinking milk can counteract phendimetrazine’s anorec-
tic quality. The drug can dangerously increase blood pressure by interacting
with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs, found in some antidepressants
and other medicine). After highly publicized incidents of adverse effects as-
sociated with combination therapy ofphentermineandfenfluramine, medical
practitioners became especially alert to any problems associated with diet
drugs. Someone taking phendimetrazine two times a day developed heart and
lung difficulty that substantially improved when dosage was halted, and a
case of temporary skin rash and kidney inflammation is reported from some-
one who was taking phendimetrazine and phentermine. The latter drug com-
bination is also suspected of responsibility for temporary trouble with blood
circulation in the brain (leading to a stroke in at least one instance). Whether
these isolated cases can be extrapolated into general principle is questionable,
but such reports raise questions worthy of further scientific investigation.
Cancer.Not enough scientific information to report.
Pregnancy.Impact on fetal development is unknown. The drug is not rec-
ommended for pregnant women.
Additional scientific information may be found in:Hadler, A.J. “Sustained-Action Phendimetrazine in Obesity.”Journal of Clinical Phar-
macology8 (1968): 113–17.
Mazansky, H. “A Review of Obesity and Its Management in 263 Cases.”South African
Medical Journal49 (1975): 1955–62.
Ressler, C., and S.H. Schneider. “Clinical Evaluation of Phendimetrazine Bitartrate.”
Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics2 (1961): 727–32.
Rostagno, C., et al. “Dilated Cardiomyopathy Associated with Chronic Consumption
of Phendimetrazine.”American Heart Journal131 (1996): 407–409.
Runyan, J.W. “Observations on the Use of Phendimetrazine, a New Anorexigenic
Agent, in Obese Diabetics.”Current Therapeutic Research: Clinical and Experimental
4 (1962): 270–75.
Sash, S.E. “Anorectic Effects of OBEX LA (D-Phendimetrazine Bitartrate) in the Treat-
ment of Obesity.”Current Therapeutic Research: Clinical and Experimental31 (1982):
181–84.