Norfenfluramine
Norfenfluramine is a metabolite of the anorectic drugs fenfluramine and benfluorex. It has been implicated in the valvular heart disease observed in patients treated with these drugs, as it is a potent agonist at the 5-HT2B receptor, which is highly expressed in human heart valves. The damage caused by norfenfluramine to heart valves is thought to result from excessive stimulation of these receptors, leading to proliferative disease of the valve interstitium.
Pharmacology[edit | edit source]
Norfenfluramine, like other serotonergic drugs, has been associated with serotonin syndrome. This is a potentially life-threatening condition that can occur rapidly after the administration of serotonergic drugs. Symptoms may include agitation, restlessness, confusion, rapid heart rate, dilated pupils, loss of muscle coordination, heavy sweating, diarrhea, headache, shivering, and goosebumps.
History[edit | edit source]
Norfenfluramine was discovered in the 1960s and was used as an appetite suppressant in the treatment of obesity. However, it was withdrawn from the market in many countries in the late 1990s due to concerns about its safety, particularly its association with valvular heart disease.
See also[edit | edit source]
Norfenfluramine Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
|
Find a healthcare provider anywhere in the world quickly and easily!
Translate to: East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski
WikiMD is the world's largest, free medical and wellness encyclopedia edited only by professionals. Advertise!
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD