In a recent segment of Dr. Phil’s show entitled Dangerous Fads, critical comments were made regarding the use of phentermine to help obese people lose weight.  The topic at hand involved the perils of “fad” programs, including inappropriate prescribing of phentermine for weight

The drug marketed as PhenPhen, discontinued because of its association with pulmonary hypertension, was a combination of two drugs – fenfluramine and phentermine. The unsafe part of this duo was fenfluramine, NOT phentermine. Phentermine has been used as an appetite suppressant