Abstract

The use of appetite depressants is not essential to weight reduction. An appetite depressant can support, but cannot take the place of strong motivation (‘will power’), and hence perseverance with the diet. If appetite depressants were known to be effective, non-addicting and non-toxic there would be no objection to their use, but dexamphetamine, amphetamine, phenmetrazine and diethylpropion are now notorious for their liability to cause dependence and even psychoses.¹ This became clear only after they had been in wide use for many years,^1–5 and it cannot be assumed that other related drugs are safe in this respect.