indication

For the management of obesity including weight loss and maintenance of weight loss in patients on a reduced calorie diet

pharmacology

Used to treat diabetes and obesity, Dexfenfluramine decreases caloric intake by increasing serotonin levels in the brain’s synapses. Dexfenfluramine acts as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. It also causes release of serotonin from the synaptosomes.

mechanism of action

Dexfenfluramine binds to the serotonin reuptake pump. This causes inhbition of serotonin reuptake. The increased levels of serotonin lead to greater serotonin receptor activation which in turn lead to enhancement of serotoninergic transmission in the centres of feeding behavior located in the hypothalamus. This suppresses the appetite for carbohydrates.

toxicity

Symptoms of overdose include respiratory failure and cardiac arrest leading to death.

absorption

Well-absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.

half life

17-20 hours

drug interactions

Acetophenazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms

Chlorpromazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms.

Ethopropazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms

Fluoxetine: Risk of serotoninergic syndrome

Fluphenazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms

Fluvoxamine: Risk of serotoninergic syndrome

Guanethidine: Dexfenfluramine may decrease the effect of guanethidine.

Insulin Aspart: Fenfluramine increases the effect of insulin

Insulin Detemir: Fenfluramine increases the effect of insulin

Insulin Glulisine: Fenfluramine increases the effect of insulin

Isocarboxazid: Risk of hypertensive crisis.

Mesoridazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms

Methdilazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms

Methotrimeprazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms

Paroxetine: Risk of serotoninergic syndrome

Perphenazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms

Phenelzine: Possible hypertensive crisis

Prochlorperazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms.

Promazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms

Promethazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase pyschotic symptoms.

Propericiazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms.

Propiomazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms

Rasagiline: Possible hypertensive crisis

Thiethylperazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms

Thioridazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms

Tranylcypromine: Possible hypertensive crisis

Trifluoperazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms

Triflupromazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms

Trimeprazine: Decreased anorexic effect, may increase psychotic symptoms

Venlafaxine: Risk of serotoninergic syndrome