Red Oak Cardiovascular Center

DIET DRUGS RELATED to HEART PROBLEMS

Cardiologists at Red Oak Cardiovascular center are treating several patients who have experienced valvular heart disease associated with the diet drug combination commonly referred to as Fen/Phen. Since the identification of the side effects of the popular weight- loss pills by doctors conducting a study at the Mayo Clinic, cases have been cropping up throughout the country.

Reports indicate that as many as 25-30% of people who had taken the drugs develop some valve damage. The drug was removed from the market in September 1997. The average age of the affected women in the Mayo study was 43. These women were previously free from heart disease when they started on the medication. Each was diagnosed with fibrous thickening of heart valves after taking the drug for an average of 12 months. The valve problems cause a "leakage" or regurgitation of blood back into the heart that should be getting pumped to the body, causing the heart to work harder. Heart surgery to repair the damaged valves is sometimes required. Some women in the study were also found to have pulmonary hypertension, which could be a potentially fatal condition.

The exact cause of the drug's effect on the heart is not currently known, but is believed to be linked to the release and metabolism of the chemical serotonin. Our cardiologists urge anyone who has taken the drugs to inform their family physician. It may be necessary to have echocardiography (Ultrasound) testing, especially if experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain, or fainting spells. For more information contact our cardiologists at redoak@redoak.com