Diethylpropion Hydrochloride

Class: Anorexigenic Agents and Respiratory and Cerebral Stimulants, Miscellaneous
VA Class: GA751
CAS Number: 134-80-5

Introduction

Amphetamine congener; anorexigenic agent.^{a b}

Uses for Diethylpropion Hydrochloride

Exogenous Obesity

Adjunct to caloric restriction in the short-term management (a few weeks) of exogenous obesity.^{a b}

Use in patients with initial body mass index (BMI) of ≥30 kg/m² who have not responded to appropriate weight-reducing regimen (diet and/or exercise) alone.^a

Use only for short-term monotherapy; not for use in combination with any other drug for weight loss.^a

Diethylpropion Hydrochloride Dosage and Administration

General

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  Teach patient to curtail overeating and consume a suitable diet to help induce and maintain weight loss.^b

  
  

Administration

Oral Administration

Administer conventional tablets orally 3 times daily, 1 hour before meals; may administer an additional dose in midevening if necessary.^{a b}

Administer extended-release tablets orally once daily, in midmorning; swallow tablet whole.^a

Dosage

Available as diethylpropion hydrochloride; dosage expressed in terms of the salt.^a

Pediatric Patients

Exogenous Obesity

Oral

Children >16 years of age: Conventional tablets: 25 mg 3 times daily, given 1 hour before meals;^a may administer an additional 25 mg in midevening if needed to overcome hunger.^{a b}

Oral

Children >16 years of age: Extended-release tablets: 75 mg once daily, given in midmorning.^{a b}

Adults

Exogenous Obesity

Oral

Conventional tablets: 25 mg 3 times daily, given 1 hour before meals;^a may administer an additional 25 mg in midevening if needed to overcome hunger.^{a b}

Extended-release tablets: 75 mg once daily, given in midmorning.^{a b}

Special Populations

Geriatric Patients

Select dosage with caution, starting at lower end of dosage range, because of age-related decreases in hepatic, renal, and/or cardiac function and concomitant disease and drug therapy.^a (See Geriatric Use under Cautions.)

Cautions for Diethylpropion Hydrochloride

Contraindications

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  Pulmonary hypertension,^a hyperthyroidism,^{a b} severe hypertension,^{a b} glaucoma,^{a b} or advanced arteriosclerosis.^{a b}

  
  


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  Agitated state or history of drug abuse.^{a b}

  
  


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  During or within 14 days of MAO inhibitor therapy.^{a b}

  
  


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  Concurrent therapy with other anorexigenic drugs.^a

  
  


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  Known hypersensitivity or idiosyncrasy to sympathomimetic amines.^{a b}

  
  

Warnings/Precautions

Warnings

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

Risk of primary pulmonary hypertension (frequently fatal).^a Risk increased by 23-fold when anorexigenic agents are used for >3 months.^a Increased risk following repeated courses of diethylpropion cannot be ruled out.^a

Discontinue immediately if new onset or exacerbation of exertional dyspnea or unexplained symptoms of angina, syncope, or edema of the lower extremities occur, and evaluate for possible pulmonary hypertension.^a

Valvular Heart Disease

Valvular heart disease reported following use of some anorexigenic agents (e.g., fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine [both no longer commercially available in the US]), particularly when used for extended periods of time, at higher than recommended dosages, and/or in combination with other anorexigenic agents.^a

Valvulopathy reported rarely with diethylpropion alone, but causal relationship not established.^a Weigh potential risks against benefits of therapy.^a

Consider performing baseline cardiac evaluation to detect preexisting valvular heart diseases prior to initiation of therapy.^a Use not recommended in patients with known heart murmur or valvular heart disease.^a Echocardiogram during and after treatment may be useful for detecting any valvular disorders which may occur.^a

To limit unwarranted exposure and risks, continue therapy only if patient has achieved satisfactory weight loss (e.g., ≥4 pounds, or as determined by clinician and patient) within first 4 weeks of therapy.^a

Tolerance to Anorexigenic Effect

If tolerance develops, discontinue therapy; do not attempt to increase effect by exceeding recommended dosage.^{a b}

CNS Effects

Performance of activities requiring mental alertness or physical coordination may be impaired.^a (See Advice to Patients.)

Abuse Potential

Potential for abuse; psychological dependence reported.^a Possible withdrawal syndrome upon discontinuance of therapy.^a

Hallucinations reported rarely following administration of high dosages.^a Psychotic episodes reported even with recommended dosages;^{a b} psychosis abated following discontinuance of therapy.^a

Manifestations of chronic intoxication with anorexigenic agents may include psychosis resembling schizophrenia, severe dermatoses, marked insomnia, irritability, hyperactivity, and personality changes.^a

Abrupt discontinuance following prolonged high dosage may result in extreme fatigue, depression, and sleep EEG changes.^a

General Precautions

Prescribe and dispense in the smallest feasible quantity to minimize possibility of overdosage.^a

Hypertension

Use with caution in patients with hypertension.^{a b} Contraindicated in those with severe hypertension.^a

Symptomatic Cardiovascular Disease

Use with caution in patients with symptomatic cardiovascular disease, including arrhythmias.^{a b}

Epilepsy

Possible seizures in some patients with epilepsy.^{a b} Carefully monitor such patients; dosage adjustment or discontinuance of therapy may be necessary.^a

Specific Populations

Pregnancy

Category B.^{a c}

Congenital malformations reported; however, causal relationship not established.^a

Abuse during pregnancy may result in withdrawal symptoms in neonate.^a

Lactation

Distributed into milk.^{a b c} Caution if used in nursing women.^{a b}

Pediatric Use

Safety and efficacy not established; use not recommended in children ≤16 years of age.^a

Geriatric Use

Insufficient experience in patients ≥65 years of age to determine whether geriatric patients respond differently than younger adults.^a Other clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between geriatric and younger patients.^a Select dosage with caution (see Geriatric Patients under Dosage and Administration); monitoring of renal function may be useful.^a

Renal Impairment

Possible increased risk of toxicity.^a (See Elimination Route under Pharmacokinetics.)

Common Adverse Effects

Precordial pain,^{a b} arrhythmia (including ventricular arrhythmia),^{a b} ECG changes,^a tachycardia,^{a b} increased BP,^{a b} palpitation,^{a b} dyskinesia,^a blurred vision,^{a b} overstimulation,^{a b} nervousness,^{a b} restlessness,^{a b} dizziness,^{a b} jitteriness,^{a b} insomnia,^{a b} anxiety,^{a b} euphoria,^{a b} depression,^{a b} dysphoria,^{a b} tremor,^{a b} mydriasis,^a drowsiness,^a malaise,^a headache,^{a b} cerebrovascular accident,^a vomiting,^{a b} diarrhea,^{a b} abdominal discomfort,^{a b} dry mouth,^{a b} unpleasant taste,^{a b} nausea,^{a b} constipation,^{a b} urticaria,^{a b} rash,^{a b} ecchymosis,^{a b} erythema,^{a b} impotence,^{a b} changes in libido,^{a b} gynecomastia,^a menstrual upset,^{a b} bone marrow depression,^{a b} agranulocytosis,^{a b} leukopenia.^{a b}

Interactions for Diethylpropion Hydrochloride

Specific Drugs

Drug	Interaction	Comments
Alcohol	Risk of adverse interactiona
Anesthetics, general	Risk of arrhythmiasa
Anorexigenic agents	Risk of serious cardiac problemsa	Avoid concomitant use (including with OTC drugs or herbal preparations) (see Contraindications under Cautions); diethylpropion not recommended for patients who used any anorexigenic agents within prior yeara
Antihypertensive agents (guanethidine [no longer commercially available in the US], methyldopa)	Decreased hypotensive effectsa b
CNS-active drugs	Risk of adverse interactiona
Insulin	Possible decrease in insulin requirements in patients with diabetes mellitusb	Use concomitantly with cautionb
MAO inhibitors	Potential for hypertensive crisisa	Diethylpropion use during or within 14 days of MAO inhibitor use is contraindicateda
Phenothiazines	Possible antagonism of the anorectic effect of diethylpropiona
Pressor agents	Possible additive pressor effectsa

Diethylpropion Hydrochloride Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

Bioavailability

Readily and rapidly absorbed from the GI tract following oral administration.^{a b}

Duration

Effects persist for about 4 hours following oral administration of conventional tablets.^b

Distribution

Extent

Diethylpropion and its active metabolites appear to cross the blood-brain barrier.^a

Diethylpropion and its metabolites cross the placenta and are distributed into milk.^{a b}

Elimination

Metabolism

Extensively metabolized to active metabolites principally via biotransformation involving N-dealkylation and reduction.^a

Elimination Route

Diethylpropion and its metabolites are excreted principally in urine.^a Approximately 75–106% of the dose (as conventional tablets) is recovered in urine within 48 hours.^a Amount recovered following administration of extended-release tablets is not substantially different from that observed with conventional tablets.^a

Half-life

Approximately 4–6 hours (for aminoketone metabolites).^a

Stability

Storage

Oral

Conventional and Extended-release Tablets

Tight containers at room temperature, <30°C.^{a b}

ActionsActions

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  Produces anorexigenic effect and loss of weight.^{a b}

  
  


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  Like other amphetamine derivatives, has no primary effect on appetite;^{a b} anorexigenic action probably is secondary to CNS stimulation.^b

  
  

Advice to Patients

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  Potential for drug to impair mental alertness or physical coordination; caution when driving or operating machinery until effects on individual are known.^{a b}

  
  


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  Importance of administering extended-release tablets whole.^a

  
  


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  Importance of informing clinicians of existing or contemplated therapy, including prescription and OTC drugs, alcohol consumption, as well as any concomitant illnesses (e.g., glaucoma, seizures, hypertension, cardiac disease).^a

  
  


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  Importance of women informing clinicians if they are or plan to become pregnant or plan to breast-feed.^a

  
  


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  Importance of informing patients of other important precautionary information.^a (See Cautions.)

  
  

Preparations

Excipients in commercially available drug preparations may have clinically important effects in some individuals; consult specific product labeling for details.

Subject to control under the Federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970 as a schedule IV (C-IV) drug.^{a b}

* available from one or more manufacturer, distributor, and/or repackager by generic (nonproprietary) name

Diethylpropion Hydrochloride

Routes	Dosage Forms	Strengths	Brand Names	Manufacturer
Oral	Tablets	25 mg*	Diethylpropion Hydrochloride Tablets (C-IV; scored)	Watson
	Tablets, extended-release	75 mg*	Diethylpropion Hydrochloride Controlled-release Tablets (C-IV; with povidone, scored)	Watson

Comparative Pricing

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. This pricing information was updated 03/2011. Actual costs to patients will vary depending on the use of specific retail or mail-order locations and health insurance copays.

Diethylpropion HCl CR 75MG 24-hr Tablets (WATSON LABS): 10/$19.99 or 20/$29.98

Disclaimer

This report on medications is for your information only, and is not considered individual patient advice. Because of the changing nature of drug information, please consult your physician or pharmacist about specific clinical use.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. and Drugs.com represent that the information provided hereunder was formulated with a reasonable standard of care, and in conformity with professional standards in the field. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. and Drugs.com make no representations or warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to such information and specifically disclaims all such warranties. Users are advised that decisions regarding drug therapy are complex medical decisions requiring the independent, informed decision of an appropriate health care professional, and the information is provided for informational purposes only. The entire monograph for a drug should be reviewed for a thorough understanding of the drug's actions, uses and side effects. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. and Drugs.com do not endorse or recommend the use of any drug. The information is not a substitute for medical care.

AHFS Drug Information. © Copyright, 1959-2011, Selected Revisions February 2008. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

References

a. Watson Laboratories, Inc. Diethylpropion HCl immediate-release and controlled-release tablets prescribing information. Corona, CA; 2007 Mar.

b. AHFS drug information 2007. McEvoy GK, ed. Diethylpropion Hydrochloride. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists; 2007:2483-4.

c. Diethylpropion. In: Briggs GG, Freeman RK, Yaffe SJ. Drugs in pregnancy and lactation. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2005:473-4.

More Diethylpropion Hydrochloride resources

• Diethylpropion Hydrochloride Side Effects (in more detail)
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• 51 Reviews for Diethylpropion Hydrochloride - Add your own review/rating

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