fenfluramine + phentermine

Fenfluramine + phentermine, commonly known as "fen-phen," is a combination drug that was used as an anti-obesity medication. It combines two anorectic agents: fenfluramine, which acts primarily as a serotonin releasing agent, and phentermine, which acts mainly as a norepinephrine releasing agent with some additional serotonin and dopamine release. The combination was believed to have synergistic effects on appetite suppression and weight loss. However, it became associated with serious adverse cardiovascular effects—most notably valvular heart disease and pulmonary hypertension—primarily attributed to excessive activation of the serotonin 5-HT2B receptor by fenfluramine. Due to these safety concerns, the use of this combination was discontinued in 1997[1][3][4][5]. While both drugs were approved individually by regulatory agencies (fenfluramine under the brand name Pondimin), their combined use was never formally approved by the FDA[3]. The product is no longer marketed or available.

Brand names

None (no unique brand name for the combination; individual components marketed as Pondimin for fenfluramine and various brands for phentermine)

Other names

Fenfluramine/phenterminePhentermine/fenfluramine