![[Vic Terry, P.C.]](../Images/lovt.gif){kind=small}
Dallas, Texas USA
Specializing in helping people since 1961
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Food & Drug Administration
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Warning About Herbal Fen-Phen
Because so-called "herbal fen-phen" products have riot been shown to be safe or effective and may contain ingredients associated with injuries, FDA is taking action to remove these products from the market.
The agency considers the products to be drugs because their names reflect that they are intended for the same use as the anti-obesity drugs fenfluramine and phentermine, which in combination are commonly referred to as "fen-phen."
FDA warned consumers last November about "herbal fen-phen." The agency believed that an increase in use of these alternative products might follow from the September withdrawal based on safety concerns about fenfluramine (Pondimin) and another prescription anti-obesity drug. dexfenfluramine (Redux). In addition, promotion of these products over the Internet and through weight-loss clinics, print ads, and retail outlets is on the rise.
The main ingredient in most herbal fen-phen products is ephedra, also called Ma Huang. Ephedra is an amphetamine-like compound with potentially powerful stimulant effects on the nervous system and heart. Since 1994, FDA has received more than 800 reports of adverse events associated with ephedrine alkaloid-containing products, ranging from high blood pressure and headaches to heart attacks and death,
Many ephedra-containing herbal fen-phen products also contain Hypericum perforatum, often called St. John's Wort or "herbal Prozac," which has not been studied under carefully controlled trials.
Other herbal fen-phen products contain 5-hydroxy-tryptophan. This compound is closely related to L-tryptophan, which was pulled from the market after being linked to 1,500 cases, including about 38 deaths, of a rare blood disorder.
