$Unique_ID{BRK01955}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{FENFLURAMINE}
$Subject{Pondimin (Robins)}
$Volume{}
$Log{}

Copyright (C) 1991 Publications International, Ltd.


FENFLURAMINE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BRAND NAME (Manufacturer):
     Pondimin (Robins)
TYPE OF DRUG:
     Anorectic
INGREDIENT:
     fenfluramine
DOSAGE FORM:
     Tablets (20 mg)
STORAGE:
     Fenfluramine should be stored at room temperature in a tightly closed,
       light-resistant container.

USES

     Fenfluramine is used as an appetite suppressant during the first few
weeks of dieting to help establish new eating habits.  This medication is
thought to relieve hunger by altering nerve impulses to the appetite control
center in the brain.  Its effectiveness lasts only for short periods (three to
12 weeks), however.

TREATMENT

     You can take fenfluramine with a full glass of water, one hour before
meals (unless your doctor directs you to do otherwise).
     If you miss a dose of this medication, take the missed dose as soon as
possible, unless it is almost time for your next dose.  In that case, do not
take the missed dose at all; just return to your regular dosing schedule.  Do
not double the next dose.

SIDE EFFECTS

     Minor.

     Blurred vision, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, euphoria,
fatigue, frequent urination, headache, insomnia, irritability, nausea,
nervousness, restlessness, stomach pain, sweating, unpleasant taste in the
mouth, or vomiting.  These side effects should disappear as your body adjusts
to the medication.
     Dry mouth can be relieved by sucking on ice chips or a piece of hard
candy or by chewing sugarless gum.
     In order to prevent constipation, increase the amount of fiber in your
diet (fresh fruits and vegetables, salads, bran, and whole-grain breads),
exercise, and drink more water (unless your doctor tells you not to do so).

     Major.

     Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
particularly bothersome.  IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
changes in sexual desire, chest pain, difficulty in urinating, enlarged
breasts (in both sexes), fever, hair loss, headaches, impotence, increased
blood pressure, menstrual irregularities, mental depression, mood changes,
mouth sores, muscle pains, nosebleeds, palpitations, rash, sore throat, or
tremors.

INTERACTIONS

     Fenfluramine anorectic medication interacts with several other types of
medications:
     1. Concurrent use of it with central nervous system depressants (such as
alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, muscle relaxants, narcotics, pain
medications, and phenothiazine tranquilizers) or with tricyclic
antidepressants can cause extreme drowsiness.
     2. Fenfluramine may alter insulin and oral antidiabetic medication dosage
requirements in diabetic patients.
     3. The blood-pressure-lowering effects of antihypertensive medications,
especially guanethidine, reserpine, methyldopa, and diuretics (water pills),
may be increased by this medication.
     4. Use of fenfluramine within 14 days of a monoamine oxidase (MAO)
inhibitor (isocarboxazid, pargyline, phenelzine, tranylcypromine) can result
in high blood pressure and other side effects.
     BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently
taking, especially any of those listed above.

WARNINGS

     * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
any medications, especially to fenfluramine or other appetite suppressants
(such as benzphetamine, phendimetrazine, diethylpropion, phenmetrazine,
mazindol, and phentermine), or to epinephrine, norepinephrine, ephedrine,
amphetamines, dextroamphetamine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine,
pseudoephedrine, albuterol, metaproterenol, or terbutaline.
     * Tell your doctor if you have a history of drug abuse or alcoholism or
if you have ever had angina, diabetes mellitus, emotional disturbances,
glaucoma, heart or cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, thyroid
disease, epilepsy, or mental depression.
     * Fenfluramine can mask the symptoms of extreme fatigue and can cause
dizziness or light-headedness.  Your ability to perform tasks that require
alertness, such as driving a car or operating potentially dangerous equipment,
may be decreased during therapy with this medication.  Appropriate caution
should, therefore, be taken.
     * Before having surgery or any other medical or dental treatment, be sure
to tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.
     * Fenfluramine is related to amphetamine and may be habit-forming when
taken for long periods of time (both physical and psychological dependence can
occur).  You should, therefore, not increase the dosage of this medication or
take it for longer than 12 weeks, unless you first consult your doctor.  It is
also important that you not stop taking this medication abruptly.  Fatigue,
sleep disorders, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, or pain
could occur.  Your doctor may want to decrease your dosage gradually in order
to prevent these side effects.
     * Fenfluramine can alter blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.
Therefore, if you are diabetic and starting to take this medication, you
should carefully monitor your blood or urine glucose levels for the first
several days.
     * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant.  Although side effects
in humans have not been studied, some of the appetite suppressants have been
shown to cause side effects in the fetuses of animals that received large
doses during pregnancy.  Also, tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding an
infant.  It is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk.

----------------

The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
