Diethylpropion: A Review of its Pharmacology and Clinical Efficacy
Abstract
Diethylpropion is a centrally acting anorectic drug that has been used for the treatment of obesity since 1959. It reduces body weight by suppressing appetite and increasing thermogenesis. The pharmacological properties, clinical efficacy, and safety profile of diethylpropion have been extensively studied over the years. This paper reviews the current evidence for the use of diethylpropion in the treatment of obesity.
Introduction
Obesity is a major public health concern and is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases (Bray et al., 2004). Diethylpropion is an anorexic drug that has been used for the treatment of obesity since 1959. It has been studied extensively and is currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for short-term treatment of obesity (FDA, 2020). This paper reviews the pharmacological properties, clinical efficacy, and safety profile of diethylpropion.
Pharmacology
Diethylpropion is an amphetamine-like anorexic drug that is structurally related to phentermine and benzphetamine (Gorelick et al., 1995). It has sympathomimetic activity, which is thought to be due to its inhibition of the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine in the central nervous system (FDA, 2020). Diethylpropion also increases thermogenesis, which is thought to contribute to its anorexic effects (Goldberg et al., 1994).
Clinical Efficacy
Diethylpropion has been studied extensively in clinical trials to evaluate its efficacy in the treatment of obesity. Several studies have demonstrated that diethylpropion is effective in reducing body weight in obese patients (Gorelick et al., 1995; Gold et al., 1997; Heo et al., 1999). In a 12-week clinical trial, diethylpropion was associated with an average weight loss of 8.9 kg, which was significantly greater than the placebo group (Heo et al., 1999). Other studies have also reported significant weight loss with diethylpropion compared to placebo (Gold et al., 1997; Greenway et al., 2001).
Safety Profile
The safety of diethylpropion has been studied extensively in clinical trials. Common side effects include dry mouth, insomnia, headache, and constipation (Gorelick et al., 1995). In clinical trials, diethylpropion was generally well tolerated and the incidence of serious adverse events was low (Greenway et al., 2001; Heo et al., 1999).
Conclusion
Diethylpropion is an anorexic drug that has been used for the treatment of obesity since 1959. It has sympathomimetic activity, which is thought to be due to its inhibition of the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine in the central nervous system. Several studies have demonstrated that diethylpropion is effective in reducing body weight in obese patients. The safety of diethylpropion has been studied extensively in clinical trials, and it is generally well tolerated with a low incidence of serious adverse events.
References
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