Phenmetrazine

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Image:Phenmetrazine.png
Phenmetrazine
Systematic (IUPAC) name
3-methyl-2-phenylmorpholine
Identifiers
CAS number	134-49-6
ATC code	?
PubChem	4762
Chemical data
Formula	C₁₁H₁₅N O
Mol. weight	177.2456
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Metabolism	?
Half life	8 hours
Excretion	Renal
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status	Schedule IV(CA) Class B(UK) Schedule II(US)
Routes	Oral, Intravenous, Vaporized, Insufflated, Suppository

Phenmetrazine is a stimulant of the central nervous system. It was previously sold under the tradename Preludin as an anorectic. Preludin has since been removed from the market. It was initially replaced by the weaker analogue Phendimetrazine (Bontril), but this is now only rarely prescribed, due to problems with abuse.

Other names that has been used for Phenmetrazine include: Defenmetrazin, Fenmetrazin, Oxazimedrine, Phenmetraline.

1 History
2 Medical use
3 Abuse
4 References

[edit] History

It was first patented in Germany in 1952 by Boehringer-Ingelheim. It was the result of a search by Thomae and Wick for an anorectic substance without the side-effects of amphetamine<ref name=martel>Martel, Antonio (1957). "Preludin (Phenmetrazine) in the Treatment of Obesity". Can. Med. Assoc. J. 76: 117.</ref> . Phenmetrazine was introduced into clinical use in 1954 in Europe<ref name=kalant>Kalant, Oriana Josseau (1966). The Amphetamines: Toxicity and Addiction.</ref> .

[edit] Medical use

In clinical use phenmetrazine produces less nervousness, hyperexcitability, euphoria and insomnia than the amphetamines<ref name=jama> (1957) "Phenmetrazine Hydrochloride". J. Am. Med. Assoc. 163 (5): 357.</ref>. It doesn't tend to increase the pulse either<ref name=martel />. Due to the relative lack of side-effects, one study found it well tolerated in children<ref name=martel />. In a study of the effectivness on weight loss between phenmetrazine and dextroamphetamine, phenmetrazine was found to be slightly more efficient<ref name=hampson>Hampson, J (1960). "Phenmetrazine and Dexamphetamine in the Management of Obesity". The Lancet 275 (7137): 1265.</ref>.

Even though the manufacturers claimed it had "exceptional safety and strikingly low incidence of side effects", within some years there were some reports of psychotic reactions of the amphetamine type<ref name=kalant />.

After an oral dose, about 70% of the drug is excreted from the body within 24 hours. About 19% of that is excreted as the unmetabolised drug and the rest as various metabolites.

[edit] Abuse

It is by some considered to have a greater potential for addiction than the amphetamines, and has been abused in many countries, for example Sweden. When stimulant abuse first became prevalent in Sweden in the 1950s, phenmetrazine was preferred to amphetamine and methamphetamine by addicts, as it was considered the superior drug. Amphetamine eventually became the dominant stimulant of abuse because of its easier availability once phenmetrazine had become illegal.