diethylpropion
Diethylpropion is a medication that's taken by mouth help with obesity and weight loss. It's typically used together with a low-calorie diet and exercise plan. This medication is only meant to be used for a short period of time because it has many potential risks.
What is Diethylpropion?
What is Diethylpropion used for?
Weight management when diet and exercise alone aren't enough in people with obesity
How Diethylpropion works
Diethylpropion is a sympathomimetic amine and has stimulant-like properties. It mainly works in the brain and is thought to help lower your appetite.
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What are the risks and warnings for Diethylpropion?
Diethylpropion can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
High blood pressure affecting the heart and lungs
Risk factors: Long-term use of diethylpropion
Medications with stimulant properties that are used for weight loss, including diethylpropion, can cause a rare and potentially deadly problem called pulmonary hypertension. When the pressure in the blood vessels that go from the heart to the lungs are too high, blood isn't able to travel well to the lungs and back to the heart. This can cause lung and heart problems. The risk for pulmonary hypertension is over 20 times higher if you use diethylpropion for more than 3 months. Report any troubled breathing, chest pain, fainting, or swelling in the ankles, feet, or legs to your provider right away. These could be signs of pulmonary hypertension.
Heart valve problems
Risk factors: Long-term use of diethylpropion | Higher than recommended dose of diethylpropion | Using together with other appetite-suppressing medications | Heart problems
The use of weight loss medications that have stimulant properties might cause damage to your heart valves. This has happened very rarely with diethylpropion, but we're not able to completely rule out the risk. The risk might be greater if you use diethylpropion long term and if you take it along with other appetite-suppressing medications or herbal products. Make sure to tell your provider if you have a history of any heart conditions. Your provider will check your heart function before starting diethylpropion.
Potential for misuse and dependence
Risk factors: History of substance misuse or dependence
Diethylpropion can be habit-forming. Because of this, it should be used with caution in people who have a history of substance misuse or dependence. Withdrawal symptoms, such as fatigue, mood changes, and changes in sleep patterns, can occur if you stop diethylpropion all of a sudden after long-term use. You and your provider will need to weigh the risks and benefits before adding diethylpropion to your weight loss regimen.
What are the side effects of Diethylpropion?
Common Side Effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Upset stomach
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Nervousness
- Jitteriness
- Racing heart
- Trouble falling asleep
- Changes in sex drive
Other Side Effects
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Unpleasant taste in your mouth
- Muscle pain
- Sweating a lot
- Anxiety
- Depressed mood
- Blurred vision
- Higher blood pressure
Serious Side Effects
- Heart or lung problems: chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness
- Heart valve problems: fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, chest pain
Source:Â DailyMed
The following side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Rare
Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
severe mental changes
shortness of breath
Incidence not known
Black, tarry stools
blurred vision
burning while urinating
chills
convulsions
cough or hoarseness
decreased ability to exercise
difficult or labored breathing
difficult or painful urination
dizziness
fainting
false or unusual sense of well-being
fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
fear or nervousness
fever with or without chills
general feeling of tiredness or weakness
headache
inability to speak
increased volume of pale, dilute urine
lower back or side pain
nosebleeds
numbness or tingling in the face, arms, or legs
restlessness
severe or sudden headache
shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
slurred speech
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
swelling of the feet or lower legs
swollen glands
temporary blindness
tightness in the chest
trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
trouble with breathing
twitching, twisting, or uncontrolled repetitive movements of the tongue, lips, face, arms, or legs
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
vision problems
weakness in the arm or leg on one side of the body, sudden and severe
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Abdominal or stomach cramps
bigger, dilated, or enlarged pupils (black part of the eye)
change in consciousness
confusion
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
increased sensitivity of the eyes to light
loss of consciousness
overactive reflexes
panic
physical attempt to injure
restlessness
sweating
violent actions
vomiting
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
Abdominal or stomach discomfort
bruising
difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
drowsiness
general feeling of discomfort or illness
headache
hives or welts
indigestion
large, flat, blue, or purplish patches in the skin
loss of appetite
passing of gas
redness of the skin
skin rash
stomach fullness or discomfort
trouble sleeping
unable to sleep
unpleasant taste
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Diethylpropion
Pros
An option to help manage your weight when diet and exercise alone haven't worked
Helps lower your appetite so you're not as hungry before meals
Comes as both an immediate-release tablet (taken before each meal) and an extended-release tablet (taken once a day)
Lower-cost generic available
Cons
Might not be a good choice for people age 65 or older, or people with kidney or heart problems
Can cause withdrawal symptoms if you stop the medication after taking it for a while
Not for long-term use
Might not work as well as other weight loss medications
Not recommended for people who've taken similar weight loss medications (like phentermine (Adipex-P)) in the past year
Pharmacist tips for Diethylpropion
Diethylpropion is meant to be used together with diet and exercise for the best results. Discuss with your provider to find a weight loss regimen that works best for you.
Diethylpropion can sometimes cause dizziness, drowsiness, and blurred vision. These side effects can affect your ability to drive safely. Before driving or performing activities where you need to be alert, make sure you know how this medication affects you.
Don't crush, chew, or break the extended-release tablet. Doing so will affect how the medication is released in the body and could lead to more side effects. Diethylpropion extended-release tablet should be swallowed whole.
Diethylpropion can be habit-forming. Never share your medication with another person, especially someone with a history of substance use disorder or addiction.
If you're taking medications to lower your blood sugar (e.g., insulin), make sure to check your blood sugar regularly and let your provider know if you notice any changes. Diethylpropion might affect your blood sugar levels. You might need changes to the dose of your diabetes medications to better manage your blood sugar levels.
You shouldn't take this medication within 2 weeks of taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), a class of medication that's typically used to treat depression. This dangerous combination can cause extremely high blood pressure, which can be deadly.
Ask your provider before starting any new medications. It's not recommended to take diethylpropion with certain weight loss medications, including some that are over the counter. Doing so can raise your risk for serious side effects.
Frequently asked questions about Diethylpropion
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Diethylpropion dosage forms
Typical dosing for Diethylpropion
Immediate-release tablet: The typical dose is 25 mg by mouth three times a day, 1 hour before meals. If needed, your provider might prescribe a fourth dose in the evening if you have problems with night hunger.
Extended-release tablet: The typical dose is 75 mg by mouth once a day in midmorning.
Interactions between Diethylpropion and other drugs
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Brofaromine
- Clorgyline
- Furazolidone
- Iproniazid
- Isocarboxazid
- Lazabemide
- Linezolid
- Moclobemide
- Nialamide
- Pargyline
- Phenelzine
- Procarbazine
- Rasagiline
- Selegiline
- Sibutramine
- Toloxatone
- Tranylcypromine
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Iobenguane I 131
How much does Diethylpropion cost?
Diethylpropion contraindications
Pulmonary hypertension
Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
Severe coronary artery disease (CAD)
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
People in an agitated or distressed state
History of substance use disorder
Use with other appetite-suppressing weight loss medications
Taking within 14 days of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)
What are alternatives to Diethylpropion?
Weight management when diet and exercise alone aren't enough in people with obesity
30 kg/m2 or greater; or
27 kg/m2 or greater, and with at least one other weight-related condition (e.g., high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol)
30 kg/m2 or greater; or
27 kg/m2 or greater with other risk factors (e.g., high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol)
What is the latest news about Diethylpropion?
Diethylpropion images
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References
Best studies we foundCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Pulmonary Hypertension.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). About Adult BMI.
Grunvald, E., et al. (2022). https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(22)01026-5/fulltext. Gastroenterology.
Lannett Company, Inc. (2019). DIETHYLPROPION HYDROCHLORIDE tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.
Lannett Company, Inc. (2019). DIETHYLPROPION HYDROCHLORIDE ER- diethylpropion hydrochloride tablet, extended release [package insert]. DailyMed.
MedlinePlus. (2016). Prescription Drug Misuse.Â
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2021). Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid).
Silva, C. D., et al. (2014). Evaluation of the toxic activity of anorectic diethylpropion in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Human & Experimental Toxicology.
U.S. Department of Justice. (2020). Stimulants drug fact sheet.
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.). Amphetamines.
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