The evolving law, science, and regulation of fen-phen
The now infamous "fen-phen" is a
combination of the drugs phentermine and fenfluramine.
Millions of people had been or were taking fen-phen when the Mayo clinic
reported an unusually high incidence of heart valve malfunction among users
in July 1997. Weeks after that, under pressure from the Food and Drug Administration,
drugs products containing fen-phen were removed from the market. Shortly
thereafter lawsuits were filed on behalf of people who had taken those
products.
Given the thousands of articles written about this issue, it is impossible for AiA to maintain a definitive compendium of those articles or the scope of the issue. However, given the importance of the matter to fen-phen users, to the manufacturers of the products, and to the many physicians who unashamedly craved the lure of riches to be had from drug-mongering to people wanting to lose even modest amounts of weight, we will maintain pages that reflect the major fen-phen events.
Prevalence of cardiac valve abnormalities linked
to Phen-Fen use questioned (Nov 3, 1997)
Diet drug withdrawal causes drop of manufacturer's
profit (Oct 22, 1997)
Civil suits filed on behalf of fen-phen users (Sep 15, 1997)
Diet drugs
removed from market under FDA pressure (Sep 15, 1997)
Fen-Phen changes brain cells in animals
(Aug 28, 1997)
FDA
fen-phen update (Aug 28, 1997)
FDA Health Advisory on fenfluramine/phentermine for
obesity (Jul 8, 1997)
FDA Health Advisory for the "health care professional"
on fen/phen (Jul 8, 1997)
FDA Q&A: Phen-Fen and valvular heart disease
(Jul 8, 1997)
Abstract
of the original Mayo report in JAMA
(Report
of the Mayo clinic study that first alleged heart valve irregularities)
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