The Latest Updates: 14 New Weight-Loss Drugs on the Horizon
There are several weight loss drugs currently in the works. Learn which weight-loss medications are being studied in clinical trials and how they work.
diethylpropion
Used for Weight loss
Used for Weight loss
Diethylpropion is a sympathomimetic medication used with a low-calorie diet and exercise to help with weight loss in adults considered obese. Because the medication is a controlled substance, it's only meant to be used short term. It comes as an immediate-release tablet that's taken by mouth 3 or 4 times a day or an extended-release tablet that's taken once a day. Side effects include dry mouth, trouble sleeping, and dizziness.
What is Diethylpropion?
What is Diethylpropion used for?
- Short-term weight loss in adults considered obese, along with a low-calorie diet and exercise
How Diethylpropion works
Diethylpropion is a sympathomimetic medication and has stimulant-like properties. It works mainly in the brain and is thought to help reduce your appetite.
When does Diethylpropion start working?Time passed since treatment started:
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Tenuate |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Sympathomimetic |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Schedule IV |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
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 in the lungs
- Risk factors: Take diethylpropion for more than 3 months
Diethylpropion can rarely cause pulmonary hypertension, a serious condition that affects the blood vessels in your lungs. Your risk is higher if you take this medication for more than 3 months. Stop taking diethylpropion and get medical help right away if you have new or worsening shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, or swelling in your legs or feet.
Heart valve problems
- Risk factors: Long-term use of diethylpropion | Higher dose of diethylpropion | Using together with other appetite-suppressing medications | Heart problems
Diethylpropion can rarely cause problems with your heart valves, though it's not clear whether the medication is the cause. Your risk could be higher if you take it for longer than recommended, take higher doses, or use it with other weight loss medications. Before you start treatment, your prescriber might check your heart, especially if you have a history of heart valve problems or a heart murmur. Tell your care team right away if you have chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, or swelling in your legs or feet.
Potential for misuse and dependence
- Risk factors: History of substance misuse or dependence
Diethylpropion can be habit-forming, so it should be used carefully if you have a history of substance misuse or dependence. If you take it for a long time, don't stop it suddenly because you might have withdrawal symptoms, such as tiredness, mood changes, or changes in your sleep. Talk to your prescriber before stopping this medication so they can help you do it safely.
Side effects of Diethylpropion
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Nervousness
- Excitability
- Trouble sleeping
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Thirst
Less Common Side Effects
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Blurred vision
- Higher blood pressure
- Changes to sex drive
Diethylpropion serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- High blood pressure in the lungs: chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, swelling
- Heart valve problems: shortness of breath, fast or irregular heartbeats, chest pain, swelling
The following Diethylpropion 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.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$90.61
GoodRx discount
$24.32
Pros and cons of Diethylpropion
Pros
- Option to help manage weight when diet and exercise alone haven't worked
- Helps reduce your appetite so you're not as hungry before meals
- Comes as a tablet taken by mouth
Cons
- Only for short-term use
- Not appropriate for people with certain heart problems
- Might not work as well as other weight loss medications
Pharmacist tips for Diethylpropion
- Diethylpropion works best when you use it with a low-calorie diet and regular exercise. Talk with your prescriber about a weight loss plan that's right for you.
- Diethylpropion extended-release tablets should be swallowed whole. Don't crush, chew, or break it because this can increase your risk of side effects.
- Diethylpropion can cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurry vision. Don't drive or do anything that requires you to be alert until you know how it affects you.
- Don't drink alcohol while taking diethylpropion. Alcohol can make side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and trouble concentrating worse.
- 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 take certain diabetes medications, such as insulin, check your blood sugar regularly. Diethylpropion can affect your blood sugar, so your prescriber might need to adjust your diabetes medications.
- Don't take Diethylpropion within 2 weeks of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), a class of medication that's typically used to treat depression. This combination can cause dangerously high blood pressure.
- Ask your prescriber before starting any new medications while taking diethylpropion. Some medications, including other weight loss medications, can raise your risk of serious side effects.
Diethylpropion dosage
The average cost for 30 tablets of 75mg of Diethylpropion is $35.27 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 26.31% off the average retail price of $47.86.
Interactions between Diethylpropion and other drugs
Diethylpropion may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Diethylpropion. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
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?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Diethylpropion (generic)
$24.32
Diethylpropion contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Diethylpropion will not be safe for you to take.
- Pulmonary hypertension
- High thyroid hormone
- Severe hardening of the arteries
- Glaucoma
- Severe 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?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Diethylpropion. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
Used for:
Short-term treatment for weight management in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of:
$10.95View prices
Used for:
Short-term treatment for weight management in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of:
$17.83View prices
News about Diethylpropion
Diethylpropion images
