title: Use of sibutramine and other noradrenergic and serotonergic drugs in the management of obesity.
abstract: Drugs that act through noradrenergic and serotonergic mechanisms have historically served as the mainstays of pharmacologic treatments for obesity. This review addresses the following three topics: a brief discussion of older weight loss medications approved for short-term use (benzphetamine, phendimetrazine, diethylpropion, mazindol, and phentermine), as well as over-the-counter adrenergic drugs (phenylpropanolamine and ephedrine); recent clinical studies documenting the safety and efficacy of a new medication for obesity treatment, sibutramine, recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for long-term use; and recent studies characterizing the valvulopathy associated with fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine, serotonergic medications for obesity which have been removed from the markets.
authors.affiliation: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA. ryandh@pbrc.edu
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D018663:Adrenergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003503:Cyclobutanes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020372:Dexfenfluramine / Q000009:adverse effects; D003913:Dextroamphetamine; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000009:adverse effects; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D018663:Adrenergic Agents; D001067:Appetite Depressants; D003503:Cyclobutanes; D018490:Serotonin Agents; D005277:Fenfluramine; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine; D020372:Dexfenfluramine; D003913:Dextroamphetamine; C058254:sibutramine