Appetite Suppressants
Appetite suppressants are used on a short term basis to combat obesity, usually when a monitored diet and exercise regime
has been tried unsuccessfully. They are also known as Anorectics - a term which is derived from the Greek for "without appetite".
Appetite suppressants are usually based on a stimulant of the Phenethylamine class. This compound works by stimulating your central nervous system and increasing your blood pressure and heart rate. Similar to an amphetamine, it affects certain neurotransmitters to decrease your appetite.
Appetite Suppressant History
This particular type of diet pill has an interesting history. Largely a product of necessity, they were widely used in the First World War by British soldiers looking to escape the hunger pangs of life at the Front. This enabled the already stretched logistics network to deliver sufficient food to all the troops.
Appetite suppressants were used once more in World War Two, this time by the German army when food supplies were short towards the end of the war. Following this, they were first marketed as a commercial product in the late 1950s.
Appetite Suppressant Products
Both prescription and non-prescription appetite suppressants are found on the market. I list below the names of a few of the most popular appetite suppressant compounds, along with the names of the drugs in which they can be found.
- Phentermine (Fastin, Adipex, Ionamin and more)
- Diethylpropion (Tenuate)
- Phendimetrazine (Prelu-2, Bontril)
- Benzphetamine (Didrex)
- Sibutramine (Meridia, Reductil)
- Rimonabant (Acomplia)
- Oxyntomodulin
Appetite Suppressant Dangers
The Phenethylamine compounds are very similar to amphetamines. While this gives the pills their appetite suppressing qualities, it also imparts on them an addictive nature. Usage should be limited to a few weeks as longer term use can result in addiction.
Anorectic agents have at certain times been shown to increase blood pressure and heart rate to unhealthy levels. Products such as Fenfluramine, Phenylpropanolamine, Ephedra and Ephedrine were associated with heart attacks and heart valves damage, and have subsequently been pulled from the market.
It is a sensible precaution when buying any drug not prescribed by a doctor, to check the ingredients on the FDA website.