title: Fenfluramine lowers plasma norepinephrine in overweight subjects.
abstract: The effect of fenfluramine on sympathetic nervous system activity was determined in 12 normotensive, obese men. Supine plasma norepinephrine (NE) concentrations decreased (p less than 0.001) from pretherapy levels (298 +/- 39 pg/ml) after one (166 +/- 30 pg/ml) and four weeks (171 +/- 28 pg/ml) of fenfluramine (60 mg daily). Fenfluramine did not alter the sympathetic nervous system responses to orthostasis or exercise. Fenfluramine-induced decreases in heart rate (72 +/- 3 to 67 +/- 4 beats/min, p less than 0.01) and mean arterial blood pressure (90 +/- 2 to 81 +/- 2 mmHg; p less than 0.005) were observed after only one week of therapy despite no significant change in body weight. We conclude that fenfluramine may be a useful agent in the treatment of patients with sympathetic hyperactivity. The effects of fenfluramine on given subsets of patients and control subjects are also defined.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D011187:Posture; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005277:Fenfluramine; D009638:Norepinephrine