"Phen-Pro": A Safer Alternative to "Phen-Fen"?

In the subsequent years since the miraculous diet drug "Phen-Fen" was taken off the market, desperate dieters and pharmaceutical companies have been vehemently searching for a replacement.

The obesity epidemic has taken a stronghold over the country, 34% of the United States population is now obese and the numbers are steadily rising. Obese Americans are searching for a solution that will produce the rapid weight loss of the popular "Phen-Fen" combination, without the dangerous side effects. Pharmaceutical companies believe they have found that solution; "Phen-Pro", a phentermine- fluoxetine combination, which could have the potential of becoming the next "miracle" weight loss cure.

The weight loss drug "phen-fen" was a combination of the amphetamine; phentermine, and the anti-depressant; fenfluramine. This combination acts upon the neurotransmitters in the Central Nervous System: dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, chemically increasing their levels. An increase in these neurotransmitters results in a drastic reduction of appetite and depression, and and extreme increase in energy in mood. With this increase of energy and lack of appetite, people taking "phen-fen" realized they were losing weight faster than ever before and with no effort.

The "Phen-Fen" combination was praised as a miracle cure for obesity by doctors and pharmacists, until it was withdrawn from the market in 1997. The FDA withdrew fenfluramine due to findings that 30% of female patients taking the drug had cardiac abnormalities, valvular heart disease, and pulmonary hypertension. The life threating side effectsof the "Phen-Fen" combination far overpowered its weight loss benefits, but doctors now believe there is a safer alternative with equivalent weightloss benefits and without the dangerous side effects. A combination of the same phentermine-amphetamine and the anti-depressant, fluoxetine (Prozac).

Chemically, the combination acts in the exact manner of the "phen-fen" combination, but with out the damaging side effects caused by the fenfluramine.The "Phen-Pro" combination has proved to be as effective as its counterpart, with most patients losing 15% of their body weight in the first few months. Both phentermine and fluoxetine are FDA approved drugs, phentermine for weight loss and fluoxetine for depression, but the combination of the two is still considered "off-label", meaning that the FDA as yet to approve the combination, with FDA approval, this drug could become the cure to American obesity.