Acutrim :: Research Paper Essays

Acutrim Acutrim is a stimulant which has two effects on the body. It is a decongestant and an appetite suppressant. The active ingredient in Acutrim is a compound called phenylpropanolamine. Its is an FDA approved, nonprescription appetite suppressant to be used with a weight loss program. The drug is initially effective in controlling excessive eating (unc-clos.tierranet.com/phenylpropanol.htm). Acutrim acts similarly to its chemical cousin amphetamine. The phenylpropanolamine acts on the hypothalamus, the region of the brain that controls the appetite, by increasing the amount of serotonin-- the chemical that affect mood and appetite. This decreases the appetite and increases the feeling of being full. Like all stimulants, it increases heart rate and blood pressure (www.phys.com/b_nutrition/02solutions/08diet/phenylprop.htm & www.clos.net/aaceobesity.htm). This supposedly can assist weight loss by increasing weight loss by about an additional five percent by taking 25 milligrams thirty minutes before eating three times a day, or by taking 75 milligrams of a slow-release formula every morning (unc-clos.tierranet.com/phenylpropanol.htm). When used as part of a diet plan, it may help you lose about an extra one-quarter of a pound each week. But the effect will only last for the first month of your diet. After that, the drug has no effect on weight loss. The weight loss may not be permanent, especially after the drug is discontinued (www.phys.com/b_nutrition/02solutions/08diet/phenylprop.htm). The most common side effects of Acutrim and the active phenylpropanolamine are nervousness, sleeplessness, throbbing heartbeat, irritability, headache, sweating, dry mouth, nausea and constipation (www.healthsquare.com/pdrfg/pd/monos/acutrim.htm).. It is seriously dangerous to take this medication while taking any antidepressant in the chemical family called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO), such as Nardil, Marplan and Parnate. If you are being treated for high blood pressure, depression, or an eating disorder, or if you have heart disease, diabetes, or a thyroid disorder, do not take Acutrim unless you will be monitored by your doctor. This product should not be given to children under the age of twelve (www.phys.com/b_nutrition/02solutions/08diet/phenylprop.htm). Although Acutrim’s utility for weight loss has been recognized for many years, however the research and medical findings confirm the theory that the active ingredient phenylpropanolamine is not an safe or permanent means of weight loss. An article by Andrew Jenkins in The Journal of Physical Education briefly describes one of the dangers