PPH Attorney

Fen-Phen

Fen-phen is the term given to a variety of appetite-suppressing drugs that debuted in the 1980s and featured a combination of two drugs, fenfluramine and phentermine. The drugs were later pulled from the shelves of stores in the United States in 1997 after the FDA found them to be linked to various heart issues, including but not limited to, Primary Pulmonary Hypertension.

Phentermine, the “phen” of fen-phen, was first approved by the FDA in 1959 as a weight-loss aid. It is an appetite suppressant of the amphetamine and phenethylamine class. It was approved as an appetite suppressant to help reduce weight in obese patients when used short-term and combined with exercise, diet, and behavioral modification. Because it’s an appetite suppressant, it is designed to suppress chemicals in the brain that trigger hunger.

Fenfluramine, the “fen” of fen-phen, is also known as Pondimin. It was first introduced to the US market in 1973. It is an appetite suppressant designed to aid weight loss. Fenfluramine triggers the release of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is the chemical in your body that is believed to play a role in the management of anger, aggression, body temperature, mood, sleep, vomiting, sexuality, and appetite. Fenfluramine triggers the release of serotonin creating a feeling of fullness and a loss of appetite.

The drugs were often combined in the 1980s and 1990s to combat weight loss. They were pulled from the shelves by the FDA following reports of them causing heart disease and primary pulmonary hypertension. Primary Pulmonary Hypertension is a chronic disease that is characterized by an increase in blood pressure in the pulmonary artery. The pulmonary artery is the artery that leads from the heart to the lungs. It transports oxygen-poor blood to the lungs to gain oxygen.

If you or someone you know has Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH), contact a PPH lawyer at Williams Kherkher at 1-800-220-9341 to schedule your consultation.