This letter discusses the safety of using the drug phentermine for long-term obesity treatment. It argues that contrary to common assumptions, phentermine does not typically elevate blood pressure and may even reduce it. The letter cites clinical trials and observational studies showing blood pressure declines in phentermine-treated patients, especially those with preexisting hypertension who lost weight. The authors conclude that long-term phentermine use is safer than assumed and should be the first-line pharmacotherapy considered for many obese patients. They call for additional long-term clinical trials of over 1 year to further evaluate phentermine's efficacy and safety profile.
2. letter to the editor DIABETES, OBESITY AND METABOLISM
Conflict of Interest 4. Hendricks EJ, Greenway FL, Westman EC, Gupta AK. Blood pressure and
heart rate effects, weight loss and maintenance during long-term
Dr Hendricks wrote the draft and Dr Rothman revised the phentermine pharmacotherapy for obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2011
letter. Both authors agreed on the final draft and have no [Epub ahead of print].
conflicts of interest. 5. Gadde KM, Allison DB, Ryan DH et al. Effects of low-dose, controlled-
release, phentermine plus topiramate combination on weight and
associated comorbidities in overweight and obese adults (CONQUER):
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964 doi:10.1111/j.1463-1326.2011.01435.x Volume 13 No. 10 October 2011