Drug Insight: appetite suppressants.
Article Details
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Bray GA
Drug Insight: appetite suppressants.
Nat Clin Pract Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005 Feb;2(2):89-95.
- PubMed ID
- 16265126 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
The term 'appetite suppressant' is used to denote drugs that act primarily on the neurochemical transmitters of the central nervous system to reduce food intake. In addition to drugs that release or mimic the effect of norepinephrine (noradrenaline), this could include drugs that inhibit: reuptake of norepinephrine or 5-hydroxytryptamine (also known as serotonin); bind to the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors or the cannabinoid receptors; and some peptides that reduce food intake. The sympathomimetic drugs phentermine, diethylpropion, benzphetamine, and phendimetrazine--so named because they mimic many effects of norepinephrine--are only approved in a few countries, and then only for short-term use. Sibutramine, a norepinephrine-5-hydroxytryptamine reuptake inhibitor, is approved for long-term use. Several new mechanisms for drug action are under investigation. Appetite suppressants should be viewed as useful adjuncts to diet and physical activity and might help selected patients to achieve and maintain weight loss.
DrugBank Data that Cites this Article
- Drug Targets
Drug Target Kind Organism Pharmacological Action Actions Phendimetrazine Alpha-1A adrenergic receptor Protein Humans YesAgonistDetails Phendimetrazine Alpha-1B adrenergic receptor Protein Humans UnknownAgonistDetails