Anorectic

Used on a short-term basis clinically to treat obesity, some appetite suppressants are also available over-the-counter. Several appetite suppressants are based on a mix of natural ingredients, mostly using green tea as its basis, in combination with other plant extracts, such as fucoxanthin, found naturally in seaweed. Drugs of this class are frequently stimulants of the phenethylamine family, related to amphetamine.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-27 |title=Fucoxanthin Benefits: 7 Powerful Health Effects You Need to Know |url=https://www.wecookrecipes.com/fucoxanthin-benefits/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.wecookrecipes.com |language=en-US}}

The German and Finnish:fi:Pervitiini militaries issued amphetamines (Pervitin) to soldiers commonly during the Second World War.{{cite news |date=May 6, 2005 |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,354606,00.html |title=The Nazi Death Machine: Hitler's Drugged Soldiers |access-date=2011-01-05 |last=Ulrich |first=Andreas |work=Spiegel Online }} Similarly, the UK military was supplied with more than 72 million Benzedrine tablets and the US military with an approximately equal amount for situations, in which fatigue was not deemed to be an acceptable option.{{Cite journal |last=Bett |first=W. R. |date=1946-08-01 |title=Benzedrine Sulphate in Clinical Medicine |journal=Postgraduate Medical Journal |language=en |volume=22 |issue=250 |pages=215 |doi=10.1136/pgmj.22.250.205 |issn=0032-5473 |pmc=2478360 |pmid=20997404}} Following the war, large amphetamine surpluses were redirected for use on the black{{Cite journal |last1=Heal |first1=David J |last2=Smith |first2=Sharon L |last3=Gosden |first3=Jane |last4=Nutt |first4=David J |date=June 2013 |title=Amphetamine, past and present – a pharmacological and clinical perspective |journal=Journal of Psychopharmacology |language=en |volume=27 |issue=6 |pages=486 |doi=10.1177/0269881113482532 |issn=0269-8811 |pmc=3666194 |pmid=23539642 }} and the civilian market. Indeed, amphetamine itself was sold commercially as an appetite suppressant until it was outlawed in most parts of the world in the late 1950s because of safety issues. Many amphetamines produce side effects, including addiction, tachycardia and hypertension,{{cite journal |doi=10.1056/NEJM199608293350901 |pmid=8692238 |title=Appetite-Suppressant Drugs and the Risk of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |volume=335 |issue=9 |pages=609–16 |year=1996 |last1=Abenhaim |first1=Lucien |last2=Moride |first2=Yola |last3=Brenot |first3=François |last4=Rich |first4=Stuart |last5=Benichou |first5=Jacques |last6=Kurz |first6=Xavier |last7=Higenbottam |first7=Tim |last8=Oakley |first8=Celia |last9=Wouters |first9=Emil |last10=Aubier |first10=Michel |last11=Simonneau |first11=Gérald |last12=Bégaud |first12=Bernard |doi-access=free }} making prolonged unsupervised use dangerous.

Epidemics of fatal pulmonary hypertension and heart valve damage associated with pharmaceutical anorectic agents have led to the withdrawal of products from the market. This was the case with aminorex in the 1960s, and again in the 1990s with fenfluramine (see: Fen-phen).{{cite journal |doi=10.1161/01.cir.99.1.156 |pmid=9884392 |title=Aminorex to Fen/Phen : An Epidemic Foretold |journal=Circulation |volume=99 |issue=1 |pages=156–61 |year=1999 |last1=Fishman |first1=A. P. |doi-access=free }} Likewise, association of the related appetite suppressant phenylpropanolamine with hemorrhagic stroke led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to request its withdrawal from the market in the United States in 2000, and similar concerns regarding ephedrine resulted in an FDA ban on its inclusion in dietary supplements in 2004. A Federal judge later overturned this ban in 2005 during a challenge by supplement maker Nutraceuticals. It is also debatable as to whether the ephedrine ban had more to do with its use as a precursor in methamphetamine manufacture rather than health concerns with the ingredient as such.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

Weight loss effects of water have been subject to some scientific research as a potential non-pharmacological approach.{{cite journal |pmid=23826600 |url=http://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2013/july/pre-meal-water/ |year=2013 |author1=Handbook of Non Drug Intervention (HANDI) Project Team |title=Pre-meal water consumption for weight loss |journal=Australian Family Physician |volume=42 |issue=7 |pages=478 }} Drinking water prior to each meal may help in appetite suppression. Consumption of {{convert|500|mL|abbr=on}} of water 30 minutes before meals has been correlated with modest weight loss ({{convert|1|–|2|kg|abbr=on|disp=semicolon}}) in obese men and women over a period of 8 to 12 weeks.{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/oby.2009.235 |pmid=19661958 |pmc=2859815 |title=Water Consumption Increases Weight Loss During a Hypocaloric Diet Intervention in Middle-aged and Older Adults |journal=Obesity |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=300–7 |year=2009 |last1=Dennis |first1=Elizabeth A. |last2=Dengo |first2=Ana Laura |last3=Comber |first3=Dana L. |last4=Flack |first4=Kyle D. |last5=Savla |first5=Jyoti |last6=Davy |first6=Kevin P. |last7=Davy |first7=Brenda M. }}{{cite journal |doi=10.4103/0976-9668.136180 |pmid=25097411 |pmc=4121911 |title=Effect of excessive water intake on body weight, body mass index, body fat, and appetite of overweight female participants |journal=Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=340–4 |year=2014 |last1=Vij |first1=Vinu Ashokkumar |last2=Joshi |first2=Anjalis |doi-access=free }}

{{main|Refeeding syndrome}}

Refeeding syndrome (RFS) is a metabolic disturbance which occurs as a result of reinstitution of nutrition in people and animals who are starved, severely malnourished, or metabolically stressed because of severe illness. When too much food or liquid nutrition supplement is eaten during the initial four to seven days following a malnutrition event, the production of glycogen, fat and protein in cells may cause low serum concentrations of potassium, magnesium and phosphate.{{cite journal |vauthors=Mehanna HM, Moledina J, Travis J |title=Refeeding syndrome: what it is, and how to prevent and treat it |journal=BMJ |volume=336 |issue=7659 |pages=1495–8 |date=June 2008 |pmid=18583681 |pmc=2440847 |doi=10.1136/bmj.a301 }}{{Cite journal|last1=Doig|first1=GS|last2=Simpson|first2=F|last3=Heighes|last4=Bellomo|first4=R|last5=Chesher|first5=D|last6=Caterson|first6=ID|last7=Reade|first7=MC|last8=Harrigan|first8=PWJ|date=2015-12-01|title=Restricted versus continued standard caloric intake during the management of refeeding syndrome in critically ill adults: a randomised, parallel-group, multicentre, single-blind controlled trial|journal=The Lancet Respiratory Medicine|volume=3|issue=12|pages=943–952|doi=10.1016/S2213-2600(15)00418-X|issn=2213-2619|pmid=26597128}} The electrolyte imbalance may cause neurologic, pulmonary, cardiac, neuromuscular, and hematologic symptoms—many of which, if severe enough, may result in death.

Refeeding syndrome can occur when someone does not eat for several days at a time usually beginning after 4–5 days with no food.{{cite journal |vauthors=Webb GJ, Smith K, Thursby-Pelham F, Smith T, Stroud MA, Da Silva AN |title=Complications of emergency refeeding in anorexia nervosa: case series and review |journal=Acute Medicine |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=69–76 |year=2011 |doi=10.52964/AMJA.0470 |pmid=22041604 |doi-access=free }}

Individuals with drug abuse who begin to reintroduce normal eating habits after a period of malnutrition may be at increased risk for refeeding syndrome.{{cite web |url=https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/assets/1/23-639_refeedingsyndromeguideline-4_redacted.pdf |title=Refeeding Syndrome |series=Clinical Guideline |website=University Hospitals Bristol and Weston}}

Numerous pharmaceutical compounds are marketed as appetite suppressants.

The following drugs are listed as "centrally-acting antiobesity preparations" in the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System:[http://www.whocc.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=A08AA ATC/DDD Index]

• Amfepramone (also known as diethylpropion)
• Bupropion and naltrexone (combination)
• Cathine
• Clobenzorex
• Dexfenfluramine^† (the D-enantiomer of fenfluramine; withdrawn for the same reason as its racemate)
• Ephedrine (combinations)
• Etilamfetamine
• Fenfluramine^† (one of the two components [the other being phentermine] of Fen-phen. Since discontinued to its potential for causing valvulopathies and pulmonary hypertension)
• Lorcaserin (withdrawn in the United States by the FDA due to an increased risk of cancer){{Cite web |work=Center for Drug Evaluation and Researcher |date=2020-02-13 |title=FDA requests the withdrawal of the weight-loss drug Belviq, Belviq XR (lorcaserin) from the market |url=https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-requests-withdrawal-weight-loss-drug-belviq-belviq-xr-lorcaserin-market |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413205622/https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-requests-withdrawal-weight-loss-drug-belviq-belviq-xr-lorcaserin-market |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 13, 2020 |publisher=FDA }}
• Mazindol
• Mefenorex
• Phentermine
• Sibutramine^† (in some countries withdrawn from the market because of concerns regarding its cardiovascular effects)
• Topiramate

The following are listed as appetite depressants by MeSH, an index of medical journal articles and books.{{MeshPharmaList|82001067}}

• Benfluorex (removed from the market by the EMA due to increased risk of heart disease){{Cite web |date=December 12, 2009 |title=European Medicines Agency recommends withdrawal of benfluorex from the market in European Union |url=https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/european-medicines-agency-recommends-withdrawal-benfluorex-market-european-union |access-date=August 22, 2022 |website=European Medicines Agency}}
• Butenolide
• Diethylpropion
• FG-7142
• Phenmetrazine^† (withdrawn in some countries due to the danger of addiction)
• Phentermine
• Phenylpropanolamine
• Pyroglutamyl-histidyl-glycine
• Sibutramine

Other compounds with known appetite suppressant activity include:

• Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine is known to hamper appetite. Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine is used to treat Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and is usually under the trade name "Adderall" or "Mydayis".{{Cite web|date=2018-06-01|title=Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - Treatment|url=https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/treatment/|access-date=2021-09-20|website=nhs.uk}}{{Cite web|title=Adderall Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing - WebMD|url=https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-63163/adderall-oral/details|access-date=2021-09-20|website=www.webmd.com}}
• Amphetamine sulfate (also known as amfetamine) – US FDA-approved for the treatment of exogenous obesity under the brand name "Evekeo".{{cite web | title=Evekeo Prescribing Information | url=https://www.evekeo.com/assets/evekeo-pi.pdf | publisher=Arbor Pharmaceuticals LLC | access-date=9 January 2017 | pages=1–2 |date=April 2014}}
• Methylphenidate
• Cocaine{{cite journal |doi=10.1007/BF00181948 |pmid=3137623 |title=Substitution and cross-tolerance profiles of anorectic drugs in rats trained to detect the discriminative stimulus properties of cocaine |journal=Psychopharmacology |volume=95 |issue=3 |pages=364–8 |year=1988 |last1=Wood |first1=Douglas M |last2=Emmett-Oglesby |first2=Michael W |s2cid=1105026 }}
• Caffeine{{Cite journal |last1=Schubert |first1=Matthew M. |last2=Irwin |first2=Christopher |last3=Seay |first3=Rebekah F. |last4=Clarke |first4=Holly E. |last5=Allegro |first5=Deanne |last6=Desbrow |first6=Ben |date=December 2017 |title=Caffeine, coffee, and appetite control: a review |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28446037/ |journal=International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition |volume=68 |issue=8 |pages=901–912 |doi=10.1080/09637486.2017.1320537 |issn=1465-3478 |pmid=28446037|hdl=10072/345209 |hdl-access=free }}
• Glucomannan{{cite journal |last1=Mohammadpour |first1=Saba |last2=Amini |first2=Mohammad Reza |last3=Shahinfar |first3=Hossein |last4=Tijani |first4=Aliyu Jibril |last5=Shahavandi |first5=Mahshid |last6=Ghorbaninejad |first6=Parivash |last7=Djafarian |first7=Kurosh |last8=Shab-Bidar |first8=Sakineh |title=Effects of glucomannan supplementation on weight loss in overweight and obese adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials |journal=Obesity Medicine |date=September 2020 |volume=19 |pages=100276 |doi=10.1016/j.obmed.2020.100276 |s2cid=225213522 }}{{cite journal |last1=Guo |first1=Liping |last2=Yokoyama |first2=Wallace |last3=Chen |first3=Maoshen |last4=Zhong |first4=Fang |title=Konjac glucomannan molecular and rheological properties that delay gastric emptying and improve the regulation of appetite |journal=Food Hydrocolloids |date=November 2021 |volume=120 |pages=106894 |doi=10.1016/j.foodhyd.2021.106894| issn=0268-005X }}
• Leptin{{cite journal |last1=Klok |first1=M. D. |last2=Jakobsdottir |first2=S. |last3=Drent |first3=M. L. |title=The role of leptin and ghrelin in the regulation of food intake and body weight in humans: a review |journal=Obesity Reviews |date=January 2007 |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=21–34 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-789X.2006.00270.x |pmid=17212793 |s2cid=24266123 |doi-access=free }}
• Lisdexamphetamine - US FDA approved for the treatment of binge-eating disorder in adults under the brand name "Vyvanse".{{Cite web |work=Center for Drug Evaluation and Research |date=August 28, 2023 |title=FDA approves multiple generics of ADHD and BED treatment |url=https://www.fda.gov/drugs/news-events-human-drugs/fda-approves-multiple-generics-adhd-and-bed-treatment |publisher=FDA }}
• Methamphetamine hydrochloride – USFDA-approved for the treatment of obesity (as a short-term) under the brand name "Desoxyn".{{cite web |title=Desoxyn Prescribing Information |url=https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/005378s028lbl.pdf |date=December 2013 |work=United States Food and Drug Administration |access-date=9 January 2017}}
• Nicotine{{Cite news |title=Why smoking makes you lose weight and no, it's not a good idea |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/photo-stories/why-smoking-makes-you-lose-weight-and-no-its-not-a-good-idea/photostory/62756866.cms |access-date=2024-01-28 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}
• Liraglutide as brand name Saxenda
• Semaglutide (brand name Ozempic/Wegovy) GLP-1 agonist
• Tirzepatide (Brand Name Mounjaro, Zepbound)
• Metformin
• Opiates/opioids such as heroin, morphine, codeine, oxycodone, fentanyl, etc.

• Anti-obesity medication

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{MeshName|Anorectics}}
• {{cite web|url=http://depts.washington.edu/druginfo/DTT/1997_Vol26_Files/V26N1.pdf|title=Anorexiant Agents: Considerations for Use|last=Mitchell|first=Kari|date=January 1997|work=Drug Therapy Topics|publisher=University of Washington Medical Center|access-date=25 December 2013}}

{{Antiobesity preparations}}

{{Authority control}}