There has been alot of hype and talk about Phentermine as the bes diet pill in the market. However, before taking the drug, it is important to understand some basic facts.

History of Phentermine -
In 1959 phentermine first received approval from the FDA as an appetite suppressing drug. Phentermine hydrochloride then became available in the early 1970s. It was previously sold as Fastin from King Pharmaceuticals for SmithKline Beecham, however in 1998 it was removed from the market. Medeva Pharmaceuticals sells the name brand of phentermine called Ionamin and Gate Pharmaceuticals sells it as Adipex-P. Phentermine is also currently sold as a generic. Since the drug was approved in 1959 there have been almost no clinical studies performed. The most recent study was in 1990 which combined phentermine with fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine and became known as Fen-Phen.

In 1997 after 24 cases of heart valve disease in Fen-Phen users, fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine were voluntarily taken off the market at the request of the FDA. Studies later proved that nearly 30% of people taking fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine had abnormal valve findings. The FDA did not ask manufacturers to remove phentermine from the market.

Phentermine is still available by itself in most countries, including the U.S. However, because it is similar to amphetamines, it is classified as a controlled substance in many countries. Internationally, phentermine is a schedule IV drug under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances. In the United States, it is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act.

What is phentermine?
Phentermine is a class of drugs called anorectics which decrease appetite by possibly changing brain levels of neurotransmitters associated with satiety. Phentermine is a stimulant that is similar to an amphetamine

• Phentermine Hydrochloride Oral tablet come in different commercial trade names:
  Adipex P (Immediate release)
  Anoxine-AM
  Ionamin (Slow Release Resin, Australia, discontinued in the US)
  Duromine (Slow Release Resin, New Zealand, Australia & South Africa)
  Fastin
  Mirapront
  Obephen
  Obermine
  Obestin-30
  Phentrol
  Phenterex
  Phentromin
  Pro-Fast SA
  Redusa
  Panbesy
  Phentermine Trenker
  Obenix
  Oby-Trim
  Teramine
  Zantryl
  Sinpet (MX)
  Supremin (PH)
  Umine (NZ)
  Weltmine (KP)

How does Phentermine work?
Phentermine stimulates nerves to release particular neurotransmitter called catecholamine. These include dopamine, epinephrine, (adrenaline) norepinephrine (noradrenaline). The increased levels of these chemicals appear to decrease the sense of hunger. Neurotransmitters are chemicals used to relay signal/messages in the brain.

These neurotransmitter eliminate the sense of hunger by putting your body in a small extent of “fight or flee’. This is the state your body takes when faced with danger. As you know if you see a car coming to hit you, you will not be aware of any hunger. Phentermine and other similar weight loss drugs like sibutramine and fenfluramine tend to mimic this state of “flight or flee” to some extent with their effect on neurotransmitters.

With the continued use of phentermine however, the effect of depressed appetite tend to wear off after a few weeks. This is why it is recommended for short term treatment. Some studies point to the possibility that this drug tolerance that results to reduced effect varies with individuals. One study has show phentermine to be still effective in a 3 year trial.

What is Phentermine used for?

It is a prescription weight loss pill that is used together with a Phentermine is used togther with diet and exercise to treat obesity (overweight) in people with risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.

Phentermine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What other information must I give my healthcare provider before taking Phentermine?

Taking phentermine together with other diet medications such as fenfluramine (Phen-Fen) or dexfenfluramine (Redux) can cause a rare fatal lung disorder called pulmonary hypertension. Do not take phentermine with any other diet medications without your doctor’s advice.

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
•duloxetine
•MAOIs like Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
•medicines for colds or breathing difficulties like pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine
•procarbazine
•sibutramine
•SSRIs like citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and sertraline
•stimulants like dexmethylphenidate, methylphenidate or modafinil
•venlafaxine

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:
•medicines for diabetes

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these conditions:
•agitation
•glaucoma
•heart disease
•high blood pressure
•history of substance abuse
•lung disease called Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH)
•thyroid disease
•an unusual or allergic reaction to phentermine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
•pregnant or trying to get pregnant
•breast-feeding
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests during treatment.

What are some side effects of Phentermine?

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
•chest pain, palpitations
•depression or severe changes in mood
•increased blood pressure
•irritability
•nervousness or restlessness
•severe dizziness
•shortness of breath
•problems urinating
•unusual swelling of the legs
•vomiting

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•blurred vision or other eye problems
•changes in sexual ability or desire
•constipation or diarrhea
•difficulty sleeping
•dry mouth or unpleasant taste
•headache
•nausea

Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol may increase dizziness and drowsiness. Avoid alcoholic drinks.

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Other precautions:

You may have withdrawal symptoms, such as depression and extreme tiredness, when you stop using phentermine after a long period of use. Do not stop using phentermine suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.

It is not known whether phentermine will harm an unborn baby. Do not take phentermine without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. It is also not known whether phentermine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not take phentermine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medication to anyone younger than 16 years old without the advice of a doctor. Phentermine may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Phentermine should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

How should I use this medicine?

Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. This medicine is usually taken 30 minutes before or 1 to 2 hours after breakfast. Avoid taking this medicine in the evening. It may interfere with sleep. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

Remember to buy drugs from reliable sources. It is not advisable to buy phentermine online without a prescription. Do not rely on the packaging or appearance of the pills, as you have no evidence that the pills contain the registered ingredients at the correct dosage and purity that is mandated by the marketing authorities. Problems with the quality of cheap phentermine ordered online and delivered to your doorstap overnight is more common than you think. You really do pay for what you get and many cases of fraud go undetected until death occurs. So better to be safe than sorry.

Technorati Tags: diet, exercise, health, weight loss

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I have Eczema!

As if things have not gotten more complicated already, now I’ve discovered that the itching I’ve been having for the last 2 years is Eczema.

It started off mild enough….once a month or so, there will be a slight itch that will go away after applying moisturizer for a couple of nights. Then last year, it was a little more sever, as I had gone on vacation in Italy, and the weather was too dry for me. The dry skin persisted on my hands, arms and legs, but it stopped after I applied some steroid cream from my doctor.

However, a few weeks later, the eczema flared up quite badly, such there there was sever itching. Within days, the dry skin had become leathery and red…..

I used steroid creams, despite knowing that it will thin the skin and bones…I was desperate. But it did not work….

steroid creams

I started to moisturize like crazy…….

I tried many different brands of moisturizers

I bought in bulk and stocked up!

After 6 months, spending a small fortune on creams, I stumbled on the eBook which helped me resolve my Eczema in 2 weeks!

Now I realize that Eczema is not a simple case of dry skin…the root cause lies in your immune system, your diet and understanding what you are eating, as well as how your body’s immune system works. Moisturizing your skin works on the dermis (upper skin layer), but not internally. Vitamins A and E are needed in your diet. On hindsight, I realized that I have neglected my health and diet due to my busy schedule. Since I followed the advice in the eBook, I have recoved from Eczema and have never felt healthier!

For Eczema suffers, don’t delay….visit the official website NOW!

You owe it to yourself to an itch-free life.

What Eczema looks like

Technorati Tags: best cure for eczema, best treatments for eczema, diet, eczema cure treatment, eczema cures for adults, eczema cures for children, eczema treatment cure, eczema treatments for adults, health, how to cure psoriasis naturally, natural cures for eczema in adults, new eczema treatment, new treatment for eczema, quickrelief psoriasis and eczema treatment, the best eczema treatment, the best treatment for eczema

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Bristol-Myers, AstraZeneca Receive FDA Approval For Diabetes Drug.
The AP (11/5) reported, “Drug makers Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and AstraZeneca PLC said Friday that they received US marketing approval for a once-a-day diabetes drug that combines the starter diabetes drug metformin with the companies’ newer drug Onglyza.” The Food and Drug Administration “approved Kombiglyze XR as a treatment for type 2 diabetes in adults.” Kombiglyze is “intended for use along with diet and exercise and has not been studied as a treatment for type 1 diabetes or in combination with insulin, the companies said.”
        Bloomberg News (11/5, Randall) reported, “Bristol-Myers, based in New York, and London-based AstraZeneca have been working together on diabetes drugs since January 2007.” Approximately “24 million Americans have the condition, which occurs when people don’t have enough insulin, limiting their ability to convert blood sugar to energy.” Onglyza “competes with Whitehouse Station, New Jersey-based Merck & Co.’s Januvia in a category of medicines called DPP-4 inhibitors that spur the pancreas to make more insulin and cause the liver to produce less glucose.” The Wall Street Journal /Dow Jones Newswire (11/5) and MedPage Today (11/5) also reported the story.

Technorati Tags: diet, exercise, type ii diabetes

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Global research and advisory firm Decision Resources has predicted that the Chinese type 2 diabetes market will grow from $1.4 billion in 2009 to $2.5 billion in 2014. According to the Emerging Markets report entitled Type 2 Diabetes in China, this growth is attributed to an increasing drug-treated population, expanding medical insurance coverage and the launch and adoption of new drugs in the market.

“China now has the largest type 2 diabetes patient population in the world, and is the third largest market for type 2 diabetes agents, behind the United States and Japan,” said Decision Resources Analyst Jing Wu, M.S., M.B.A. “The type 2 diabetes market in China will continue to grow between 2009 and 2014 at an annual rate of 13 percent, which is faster than expected growth in the US or Japan.”

The report also finds that rising sales from newly launched Western-branded products will offset the generic erosion from older agents. The launches of three dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-IV) inhibitors—Merck’s Januvia, Novartis’s Galvus and Bristol-Myers Squibb/AstraZeneca’s Onglyza—and two glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analogues—Novo Nordisk’s Victoza and Eli Lilly/Amylin/Alkerme’s Bydureon—between 2009 and 2014 will result in more than $270 million combined sales from these two drug classes in 2014.

“Increasing economic power in China and improvements in health insurance coverage has resulted in increased access to healthcare and the ability to afford expensive Western-branded drugs,” said Wu. “While metformin will continue to be the most widely prescribed agent in China because of its low cost and long-term physician familiarity, newly launched DPP-IV inhibitors and GLP-1 agonists will be used more frequently in the second or third line. The use of more Western brands will contribute to the expansion of the type 2 diabetes market in China.”

The new report features extensive primary research of Chinese endocrinologists in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin and Wuhan as well as epidemiology data.

Technorati Tags: china, health, type 2 diabetes

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Roche Stands To Lose Substantial Sales Should Regulatory Bodies Revoke License For Avastin.
Dow Jones Newswire(12/8, Mijuk) reported that should FDA and European regulators revoke the license for Avastin (bevacizumab) as a treatment for breast cancer, then the drug’s maker, Roche Holding AG, may stand to lose more than one billion Swiss francs in sales in 2010. On Dec. 17, the FDA is generally expected to make its decision as to whether Avastin may be used together with certain chemotherapy protocols to treat metastatic breast cancer. Currently, the agency is reviewing new data supplied by Roche.

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Agency working with trade associations to increase company vigilance and protect public

In a letter sent today to dietary supplement manufacturers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expressed concern about undeclared or deceptively labeled ingredients in products marketed as dietary supplements. These substances include the active ingredients in FDA-approved drugs or their analogs (closely-related drugs), or other compounds, such as novel synthetic steroids, that do not qualify as dietary ingredients.

In recent years, FDA has alerted consumers to nearly 300 tainted products marketed as dietary supplements and received numerous complaints of injury associated with these products.

The FDA’s letter emphasizes that manufacturers and distributors are responsible for ensuring that their products comply with the law. Five major trade associations – Council for Responsible Nutrition, Natural Products Association, United Natural Products Alliance, Consumer Healthcare Products Association and American Herbal Products Association– are joining FDA on a call for media and have agreed to share the letter widely within the industry.

“These tainted products can cause serious adverse effects, including strokes, organ failure, and death,” said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. “The manufacturers selling these tainted products are operating outside the law.”

The FDA is seeking input and collaboration from dietary supplement trade associations to educate the industry about this problem and to help develop new strategies to combat it, according to Hamburg.

The agency also announced a new RSS feed¹ to warn consumers more quickly about tainted products marketed as dietary supplements.

The FDA has noted the three most common categories of these illegal products:

• Weight loss products² containing active ingredients such as sibutramine: Sibutramine is the active ingredient in the drug Merida, which was recently withdrawn³ from the market due to increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The FDA has discovered dozens of products, such as Slimming Beauty⁴, Solo Slim⁵, Slim-30⁶, and others, which contain sibutramine or closely related drugs (analogs).
• Body-building products⁷ containing anabolic steroids or steroid analogs: These products can cause acute liver injury and increase the risk for heart attack, stroke and death. Products like Tren Xtreme, ArimaDex, and Clomed have been labeled to contain either anabolic steroids or aromatase inhibitors, which prevent anabolic steroids from being converted to estrogen.
• Sexual enhancement products⁸ that contain the same active ingredient or an analog of the active ingredient in the approved drugs Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. The approved products are available only by prescription, and they should not be used by people who have certain medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease. Products determined to be in violation of federal law by the FDA include Vigor-25⁹, Duro Extend Capsules for Men¹⁰, Magic Power Coffee¹¹, and others.

“The labeling of these tainted products may claim that they are ‘alternatives’ to FDA-approved drugs, or ‘legal’ alternatives to anabolic steroids,” said Michael Levy, director of the Division of New Drugs and Labeling Compliance at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Consumers should avoid products marketed as supplements that claim to have effects similar to prescription drugs. Consumers should also be wary of products with labeling only in a foreign language or that are marketed through mass e-mails.”

Companies that make or distribute tainted products may receive warning letters and/or face enforcement actions such as product seizures, injunctions, and criminal prosecution. Responsible individuals may also face criminal prosecution.

Lawful dietary supplements contain minerals, vitamins or other dietary ingredients and are intended to be an addition to a standard diet. The FDA regulates these products under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, passed by Congress in 1994. Unlike drugs, dietary supplements do not have to be approved by the FDA prior to marketing. Dietary supplement manufacturers and distributors are responsible for selling a safe product. FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practices require dietary supplement manufacturers to have proper manufacturing and quality assurance controls in place to ensure the quality of their products, including controls to prevent the inclusion of contaminants that could adulterate their products.

For more information:

Letter to Industry: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/
MedicationHealthFraud/UCM236985.pdf¹²

Tainted Products Marketed as Dietary Supplements: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm236774.htm ¹³

RSS Feed: http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/ContactFDA/StayInformed/RSSFeeds/TDS/rss.xml¹⁴

Tainted Body Building Products: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/
MedicationHealthFraud/ucm234523.htm¹⁵

Tainted Sexual Enhancement Products: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/MedicationHealthFraud/ucm234539.htm¹⁶

Tainted Weight Loss Products: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/
MedicationHealthFraud/ucm234592.htm¹⁷

Photos of Tainted Products Marketed as Dietary Supplements: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fdaphotos/sets/72157625502079212/¹⁸

Dietary Supplements: http://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/default.htm

Technorati Tags: diet, health, health supplements, weight loss

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FDA review indicates possible association between breast implants and a rare cancer
Agency requesting health care professionals to report confirmed cases
 
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced a possible association between saline and silicone gel-filled breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a very rare type of cancer. Data reviewed by the FDA suggest that patients with breast implants may have a very small but significant risk of ALCL in the scar capsule adjacent to the implant.
 
The FDA is requesting that health care professionals report any confirmed cases of ALCL in women with breast implants.
 
In an effort to ensure that patients receiving breast implants are informed of the possible risk, FDA will be working with breast implant manufacturers in the coming months to update their product labeling materials for patients and health care professionals.
 
“We need more data and are asking that health care professionals tell us about any confirmed cases they identify,” said William Maisel, M.D., M.P.H., chief scientist and deputy director for science in FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “We are working with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and other experts in the field to establish a breast implant patient registry, which should help us better understand the development of ALCL in women with breast implants.”
 
According to the National Cancer Institute, ALCL appears in different parts of the body including the lymph nodes and skin. Each year ALCL is diagnosed in about 1 out of 500,000 women in the United States. ALCL located in breast tissue is found in only about 3 out of every 100 million women nationwide without breast implants.
 
In total, the agency is aware of about 60 cases of ALCL in women with breast implants worldwide. This number is difficult to verify because not all cases were published in the scientific literature and some may be duplicate reports. An estimated 5 million to 10 million women worldwide have breast implants.
 
The FDA notification is based on a review of scientific literature published between January 1997 and May 2010 and information from other international regulators, scientists, and breast implant manufacturers. The literature review identified 34 unique cases of ALCL in women with both saline and silicone breast implants.
 
Most cases reviewed by the FDA were diagnosed when patients sought medical treatment for implant-related symptoms such as pain, lumps, swelling, or asymmetry that developed after their initial surgical sites were fully healed. These symptoms were due to collection of fluid (peri-implant seroma), hardening of breast area around the implant (capsular contracture), or masses surrounding the breast implant. Examination of the fluid and capsule surrounding the breast implant led to the ALCL diagnosis.
 
The FDA is recommending that health care professionals and women pay close attention to breast implants and do the following:

• Health care professionals are requested to report all confirmed cases of ALCL in women with breast implants to Medwatch, the FDA’s safety information and adverse event reporting program. Report online¹ or by calling 800-332-1088.
• Health care professionals should consider the possibility of ALCL if a patient has late onset, persistent fluid around the implant (peri-implant seroma). In cases of implant seroma, send fresh seroma fluid for pathology tests to rule out ALCL.
• There is no need for women with breast implants to change their routine medical care and follow-up. ALCL is very rare; it has occurred in only a very small number of the millions of women who have breast implants.  Although not specific to ALCL, health care providers should follow standard medical recommendations.
• Women should monitor their breast implants and contact their doctor if they notice any changes.
• Women who are considering breast implant surgery should discuss the risks and benefits with their health care provider.

The FDA published its literature review in a document posted on FDA’s website site today titled “Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) in Women with Breast Implants: Preliminary FDA Findings and Analyses.”
 
The FDA also plans to provide an update on its review of silicone gel-filled breast implants in the spring of 2011. This update will include interim findings from ongoing post-approval studies for silicone gel-filled breast implants currently sold in the United States, adverse event reports submitted to the FDA, and a review of the scientific literature on these products.
 
For more information:
 
ALCL and Breast Implants
² 
Breast Implant Consumer Information³
 

ALCL and Breast Implants Consumer Article

Technorati Tags: alac, breast implants, health

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