xerostomia
Phendimetrazine Adverse Reactions
Patients can develop tolerance to the anorectic effect of phendimetrazine within a few weeks. The mechanism of tolerance appears to be pharmacodynamic in nature; higher doses of phendimetrazine are required to produce the same response. When tolerance develops to the anorexiant effects, it is generally recommended that phendimetrazine be discontinued rather than the dose increased. The maximum recommended dose should not be exceeded.
Anorexigens have been reported to be associated with the occurrence of serious regurgitant cardiac valvular disease, including disease of the mitral, aortic, and/or tricuspid valves. Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), a rare, frequently fatal disease of the lungs, has also been found to occur with increased frequency in patients receiving anorexigens. There have been reports of PPH and valvular irregularities (cardiac valvulopathy) in patients receiving phendimetrazine, all of which had a history of using at least one other anorexigen. The initial symptom of PPH is usually dyspnea. Other initial symptoms include: angina pectoris, syncope, or peripheral edema. Patients should be advised to report immediately any deterioration in exercise tolerance. Phendimetrazine should be discontinued in patients who develop new, unexplained symptoms of dyspnea, angina pectoris or chest pain (unspecified), syncope, or peripheral edema. No case of cardiac valvulopathy has been reported when phendimetrazine was used alone.
Other adverse reactions that may occur or have been reported with phendimetrazine include abdominal pain, agitation, blurred vision, constipation, diaphoresis, diarrhea, dizziness, dyskinesia, dysphoria, dysuria, euphoria, flushing, headache, hypertension, impotence, increased urinary frequency, insomnia, libido decrease, libido increase, mydriasis, nausea/vomiting, ocular irritation, overstimulation, palpitations, psychosis (rare) at recommended doses, restlessness, sinus tachycardia, tremor, and xerostomia.
Abuse of phendimetrazine may be associated with intense psychological dependence and severe social dysfunction. In some cases, patients have increased the dose of phendimetrazine several times that recommended. Abrupt withdrawal of phendimetrazine after prolonged high doses may result in extreme fatigue or mental depression; sleep EEG changes have also been noted. Signs and symptoms of chronic use of anorectic drugs include severe dermatoses, marked insomnia, irritability, hyperactivity, and personality changes. Psychosis or hallucinations, which can often clinically indistinguishable from schizophrenia, is the most severe manifestation of chronic intoxication.
[ Last revised: 2/1/2002 ]
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