Amphetamines used for weight loss since 1936

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Monday, September 19, 2005 3:58 am Email this article
Amphetamines were introduced in 1936 and used for weight loss, however, now are banned, restricted or discouraged because of problems with drug dependencies, drug abuse and cardiovascular problems according to paper by Dr. Lisa L. Ioannides-Demos from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Comment: The woman who took amphetamines

I imagine that like alcohol, while some people may have problems with amphetamines, others may not.

A brilliant doctor who is a good friend of mine told me an interesting story about amphetamines.

He said that about 30 years ago, a lovely, happy, attractive older female patient came to see him for the first time.

He found out that she had been taking amphetamines for years, as prescribed by her doctor, to control her weight.

He told her, “We’ve got to get you off those amphetamines. Those are bad for you.”

He saw her several more times.

Comment: Six months later the woman was unrecognizable

Then, about six months later, a woman approached him in the store, but he did not recognize her.

He then realized it was the woman who had been on amphetamines.

She looked awful. She look tired, depressed, obese and so much older than she had before.

Comment: Six months after that, she died

About six months after that he found out that the woman had died.

Comment: Had he done the right thing?

He said he could not help but wonder, “Did I really help this woman by getting her off amphetamines? She seemed to be doing fine when she was taking them, and did not seem to have a problem. I wonder if I did the right thing? I can’t help but think that she would have been better off to continue with what was working for her.”

I agree.

Human logic prefers to see things as “good” or “bad” rather than a combination of the two, which most things are.

REFERENCE

Ioannides-Demos LL, Proietto J, Mcneil JJ. Pharmacotherapy for obesity. Drugs. 2005, 65(10):1391-418.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

Dr. Lisa L. Ioannides-Demos
National Health and Medical Research Council Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Therapeutics
Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine
Monash University
Central & Eastern Clinical School
The Alfred Hospital
Commercial Road
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3004
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