YES, The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) have only two criterion for any drug approved. 1) Are they safe? 2) Do they work? Most of the medications we use have been approved since the late 50's or early 60's. All have been approved by the FDA for both safety and efficacy.

HOW DO THEY WORK?

The main action of drugs used in weight reduction is to reduce your appetite. Therefore you eat less food.

ARE THEY SAFE?

YES, if you follow the instructions and advice of your physician. most of the drugs have been in use for years without problems when taken as prescribed.

CAN I TAKE DIET PILLS IF I HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?

The only drug with that requires caution is Meridia. Otherwise if the blood pressure is adequately controlled no problems with any of the other drugs will usually occur. This includes Phentermine, Didrex, or Xenical.

CAN I TAKE THESE DRUGS IF I HAVE DIABETES?

YES, a nice side effect is that they may even lower your insulin or oral medication requirement for Type II diabetics. However, they are not recommended for Type I diabetes.

DOES PHENTERMINE CAUSE HEART VALVE DAMAGE?

NO, there are no cases of heart valve disease in patients taking Phentermine. All cases have involved only the fenfluramines (Pondimin or Redux).

Also, it was not the combination of Phetermine with the Fenfluramines as originally thought. The Fenfluramines are the only diet pills which are known to cause Heart Valve Disease and have been taken off the market.

DOES PHENTERMINE CAUSE PRIMARY PULMONARY HYPERTENSION (PPH)?

NO, Phentermine does not cause PPH. This disease, as Heart Valve Disease, is associated with only the Fenfluramines.

IS PHENTERMINE ALONE AS EFFECTIVE AS PHEN/FEN?

YES, but let the originator of Phen/Fen answer that. Dr. Michael Weintraub published his original work in 1992. Weintraub's premises was not that Phen/Fen was more effective, but that by using two drugs he could reduce the dose of both drugs and thus the side effects.

WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE CHEMICAL APPETITE SUPPRESSANTS?

Anyone who has an irregular heart beat, uncontrolled hypertension, angina, hyperthyroid (overactive), glaucoma or are pregnant.

CAN I TAKE THESE DRUGS IF I TAKE ANTIDEPRESSANTS?

YES, but only the SSRI varieties; Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, etc., are okay as are the older Tryicyclics such as Elavil. You can not take these drugs if you are on a MAO inhibitor such as Eldepryl, Parnate, Marplan and Nardil.