Ephedrine anorectic effect

The enantiomeric forms D-ephedrine and (-) pseudoephedrine do not occur in nature. Concern has been expressed about the indiscriminate use of Ephedra for its stimulant and anorectic effects (Chapter VIII). 

Chemical Structures. Figure 1 shows the chemical structures for 14 phenylethylamine compounds. Nine of these compounds are used clinically as anorectics (ii-amphetamine, phentermine, diethylpropion, phenmetrazine, phendimetrazine, clotermine, chlorphentermine, benzphetamine, and fenfluramine). Four of these compounds are not approved for clinical use and are reported to have hallucinogenic properties (MDA, PMA, DOM, and DOET). The final compound ( /-ephedrine) is used clinically for bronchial muscle relaxation, cardiovascular, and mydriatic effects. Figure 2 shows the chemical structure for MDMA, the methyl analog of MDA. MDMA is not approved for clinical use and has been reported to produce both LSD-like and cocaine-like effects. 

In a summary of the human abuse literature on anorectic phenylethylamines, Griffiths et al. (1979) found there was a good correlation between the results of self-administration studies in animals and information about the subjective effects and abuse in man. Specifically, amphetamine, diethyl-propion, and phenmetrazine have been associated with numerous clinical case reports involving abuse, and these three compounds as well as benz-phetamine and /-ephedrine have shown similar subjective effects in drug abuser populations (Griffiths et al. 1979). In addition, fenfluramine was associated with low incidence of abuse in humans and did not maintain self-injection responding in animals. Chlorphentermine was similarly associated with low incidence of abuse in man, but did not maintain selfinjection uniformly in animals (Griffiths et al. 1979). 

Amphetamine was the first anorectic drug to be introduced into clinical practice. It was originally synthesised in the 1920 s as a potential substitute for ephedrine and marketed under the trade name of Benzedrine for use as a nasal decongestant. Initially, it was thought to have very little, if any, effect on the central nervous system. However, within a relatively short time it was noted that, in contrast to what had first been thought, amphetamine had pronounced stimulant and mood elevating properties. 

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