Source: Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
An inexpensive weight-loss drug approved 60 years ago for only short-term use also may be safe and effective for longer-term treatment, according to a new study.
The drug, phentermine, is currently FDA-approved for use of up to three months.
Although diet and exercise are critical components of any weight-loss program, up to half of patients don't have long-term success with lifestyle changes alone.
A study found that people who stayed on phentermine longer experienced greater weight loss than those who took the drug for three months or less, and longer-term use was not associated with increases in blood pressure or increased risk of heart attack, stroke or death
The study did not examine the most effective dose of the drug or potential side effects such as anxiety or insomnia.
In addition, the people in the study did not have evidence of pre-existing heart disease and most were young or middle-aged women.