Table 1.
Past anti-obesity drugs acting in the central nervous system
| Drug Name | Approved | Mechanism | Reason withdrawn and Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amphetamine | 1947 | Central norepinephrine release | DEA-Schedule II, 1970’s |
| Aminorex | 1965 (Ger) | Central Norepinephrine release | Pulmonary HTN, 1968 |
| Fenfluramine | 1973 | Serotonin agonist | Heart valvulopathy, 1997 |
| Phenylpropanolamine | 1976 | Alpha adrenergic agonist | Hemorrhagic stroke, 2000 |
| Caffeine and Ephedra | 1994 (DSHEA) | Non-selective adrenergic agonist | Cardiac and psychiatric AE’s, 2004 |
| Rimonabant | 2005(EU) | Cannabanoid-1 antagonist | Depression and suicide, 2007 |
| Sibutramine | 1997 | Norepinephrine/serotonin reuptake inhibitor | Ml, stroke and death, 2010 |
DEA = Drug Enforcement Administration; GER = Germany; HTN = Hypertension; DSHEA = Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act; AE = Adverse Event; EU =European Union; Mi = Myocardial Infarction