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Query: UMLS:C0028754 (obesity)
 124,988 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The sympathomimetic agent ephedrine has potent thermogenic and anti-obesity properties in rodents. The effect is markedly enhanced by caffeine, while caffeine given alone has no effect. This study was undertaken to find out if a similar weight reducing synergism between ephedrine and caffeine is present in obese patients. In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind study, 180 obese patients were treated by diet (4.2 MJ/day) and either an ephedrine/caffeine combination (20mg/200mg), ephedrine (20 mg), caffeine (200 mg) or placebo three times a day for 24 weeks. Withdrawals were distributed equally in the four groups, and 141 patients completed the trial. Mean weight losses was significantly greater with the combination than with placebo from week 8 to week 24 (ephedrine/caffeine, 16.6 +/- 6.8 kg vs. placebo, 13.2 +/- 6.6 kg (mean +/- s.d.), P = 0.0015). Weight loss in both the ephedrine and the caffeine groups was similar to that of the placebo group. Side effects (tremor, insomnia and dizziness) were transient and after eight weeks of treatment they had reached placebo levels. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure fell similarly in all four groups. We conclude, that in analogy with animal studies, the ephedrine/caffeine combination is effective, while caffeine and ephedrine separately are ineffective for the treatment of human obesity.
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PMID:The effect and safety of an ephedrine/caffeine compound compared to ephedrine, caffeine and placebo in obese subjects on an energy restricted diet. A double blind trial. 131 81

Fluoxetine is a highly specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor. In studies that used a dose of 60 mg once daily, fluoxetine-treated patients consistently had greater weight loss than placebo-treated patients. In six double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of 6-8 wk duration, mean weight changes on fluoxetine were approximately 0.5 kg/wk. Longer term studies have shown maximum mean weight loss to occur at 12-20 wk of therapy. Studies have consistently shown improvements in indices of glycemic control as well as weight loss in obese diabetic patients. Safety analysis has been performed on data from 3491 obese patients in controlled clinical trials of up to 52 wk duration. Adverse events with an incidence of greater than 5%, which were reported significantly more frequently by fluoxetine-treated patients, were headache, asthenia, nausea, diarrhea, somnolence, insomnia, nervousness, sweating, and tremor. Fluoxetine is effective, well tolerated, and safe in the treatment of obesity and obese diabetics.
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PMID:Clinical studies with fluoxetine in obesity. 172 31

The thermogenic beta 3-adrenoceptor agonist BRL 26830A has been shown to increase weight loss in dieting subjects but tremor was a frequent adverse effect. We have investigated the magnitude and nature of this tremor after a single oral dose in 18 subjects. Two complementary techniques were used to attach the recording apparatus to the subjects to give both isotonic and isometric measures of tremor. Increases of 84% and 40% respectively were found due to exaggeration of physiological tremor presumably mediated through concomitant beta 2-adrenoceptor stimulation. The use of beta 3-adrenoceptor agonist drugs in the treatment of obesity may increase but the development of an agent without tremor inducing properties would be an obvious advantage.
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PMID:Tremor and the anti-obesity drug BRL 26830A. 198 20

Beta-adrenoceptor agonists have recently been shown to promote substantial loss of adipose tissue in laboratory animals. One of these BRL, 26830A, increases thermogenesis in human volunteers and has been shown to enhance the rate of weight reduction in patients adhering to a strict reducing regimen. Forty-three post-menopausal or sterilized female subjects suffering from refractory obesity participated in a double-blind placebo-controlled study, the treatment group receiving BRL 26830A 50 mg qid. Two subjects were withdrawn because they developed an unpleasant sensation of tremor and in all, 17 of the 20 who received BRL 26830A mentioned this side effect. There was no change in erect or supine blood pressure or in resting heart rate. There was no significant difference in weight change during the 6-week study. It is concluded that BRL 26830A does not appear to promote weight reduction in subjects unable to adhere strictly to their dietary regime.
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PMID:The effects of a new beta-adrenoceptor agonist BRL 26830A in refractory obesity. 289 57

In a cross-sectional study of 4558 Australians, it was found that the proportion of subjects reporting indigestion, palpitations, tremor, headache and insomnia increased significantly with mean caffeine intake. A multiple logistic regression model was used to show that the association between the prevalence of these symptoms and usual daily caffeine consumption remained significant in both males and females for palpitations, tremor, headache and insomnia after controlling for the potential confounding factors of age, adiposity, smoking, alcohol intake and occupation. Adiposity was strongly correlated with the prevalence of indigestion and the apparent association between caffeine and indigestion disappeared when adiposity was controlled for. According to the logistic model, the relative risk of experiencing symptoms for people consuming 240 mg of caffeine (approximately 4-5 cups of coffee or tea) per day (the population average) compared with caffeine abstainers is 1.6 for palpitations, 1.3 for tremor, 1.3 for headache, and 1.4 for insomnia in males and 1.7, 1.5, 1.2 and 1.4 respectively for females. Further logistic regression analysis indicated that the associations found between caffeine intake and symptoms did not depend on the source of caffeine. In general, coffee consumption has no significant effect over and above that attributable to its caffeine content. If these associations are causal, then approximately one quarter of the reported prevalence of palpitations, tremor, headache and insomnia is attributable to caffeine consumption in this study population.
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PMID:A study of caffeine consumption and symptoms; indigestion, palpitations, tremor, headache and insomnia. 387 38

The obese (C57BL/6J ob/ob) mouse is a commonly used animal model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. It has recently been demonstrated that this mouse is not consistently hyperglycemic, however, unless it is subjected to environmental stress. In the present study, hyperglycemia in obese mice was induced by classical conditioning. Obese diabetic mice and lean control animals were exposed to shaking stress. All animals developed hyperglycemia in response to shaking. To demonstrate classical conditioning, some obese and lean animals were exposed to a metronome prior to and during the shaking. Other animals were exposed to the metronome and shaking in a noncontingent fashion and one group of animals was exposed to the metronome without any exposure to shaking. All animals received seven exposures to one of the three above conditions over a 3-day period. On the 4th day all animals were exposed to the metronome alone, following which blood samples were drawn. Classical conditioning of stress hyperglycemia was demonstrated in obese, but not in lean, mice.
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PMID:Classically conditioned hyperglycemia in the obese mouse. 407 May 25

Obese patients, age 18-60 years, overweight 20-80 per cent, entered a controlled, clinical study comparing the effects of two anorectic drugs, ie a prescription containing ephedrine and caffein ('Elsinore pills') and diethylpropion, with placebo. All 132 patients were instructed in a 1200-kcal diet, and 108 patients completed 12 weeks' treatment. There was a significantly better effect on body weight of diethylpropion (39 patients, median weight loss 8.4 kg, P less than 0.01) as well as of 'Elsinore pills' (38 patients, median weight loss 8.1 kg, P less than 0.01) compared to the effect of placebo treatment ( 31 patients, median weight loss 4.1 kg). Four patients treated with diethylpropion, and four patients treated with 'Elsionore pills' were withdrawn because of complaints of exaltation, tremor and insomnia. Tremor, in some cases only transient, was significantly more frequent in the 'Elsinore pill' group, but no serious side effects were observed.
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PMID:Ephedrine as an anorectic: the story of the 'Elsinore pill'. 722 74

We report on a patient with sleep apnea and an unusual familial movement disorder. The movements were present only during wakefulness and nocturnal arousals caused by disordered breathing. A 27-year-old obese man was referred with sleep onset insomnia, symptoms suggesting restless legs syndrome, daytime sleepiness, loud snoring and awakening with choking sensations. He was proven to have obstructive sleep apnea (apnea hypopnea index = 60.6). He also had a daytime movement disorder that was characterized by almost continuous stereotypic tapping of one or both legs. The movements were suppressible and not associated with any unpleasant or abnormal leg sensation. Virtually identical movements were present in three generations of his family. The severity of the movements did not worsen late in the day or with supine posturing. The nocturnal movements, consisting of a visible shaking of one or both legs, occurred only during arousals secondary to the apnea, had a mean duration of 5.7 +/- 3.0 (standard deviation) seconds and could not be defined as periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS). Successful treatment of apnea by nasal continuous positive airway pressure dramatically reduced the movements during sleep (from 88.2 to 1.9 per hour). The clinical significance and the mechanism of this movement disorder is unknown. We discuss the features inconsistent with restless legs syndrome and consider other possible phenomenology, including akathisia. We conclude that this patient may have a previously unreported familial movement disorder and in addition developed the sleep apnea syndrome related to obesity.
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PMID:A familial awake movement disorder mimicking restless legs in a sleep apnea patient. 855 32

Many types of drugs are used by athletes to improve performance. This paper reviews the literature on 3 categories of drugs: those that enhance performance as stimulants (amphetamines, ephedrine, and cocaine), those that are used to reduce tremor and heart rate (beta-blockers) and those involved in bodyweight gain or loss (anabolic-androgenic steroids, growth hormone, beta 2-agonists, and diuretics). Limitations of research on these drugs as they relate to performance enhancement are also discussed. The numerous studies that have assessed the effects of amphetamines on performance report equivocal results. This may be due to the large interindividual variability in the response to the drug and the small sample sizes used. Most studies, however, show that some individuals do improve exercise performance when taking amphetamines, which may be attributed to their role in masking fatigue. As a stimulant, ephedrine has not been found to improve performance in the few studies available. More recently, ephedrine has been purported to be effective as a fat burner and used by athletes to maintain or improve muscle mass. Although research on individuals with obesity supports the use of ephedrine for fat loss, no studies have been done on athletes. The few studies of cocaine and exercise suggest that little to no performance gains are incurred from cocaine use. Moreover, the sense of euphoria may provide the illusion of better performance when, in actuality, performance was not improved or was impaired. beta-Blockers have been found to reduce heart rate and tremor and to improve performance in sports that are not physiologically challenging but require accuracy (e.g. pistol shooting). However, there is evidence that some individuals may be high responders to beta-blockers to the extent that their heart rate response is so blunted as to impair performance. Although equivocal, several studies have reported that anabolic-androgenic steroids increase muscle size and strength. However, most studies are not well controlled and use insufficient drug doses. One recent well controlled study did find an increase in muscle mass and strength with supraphysiological doses, and the improvements were greater in participants who were also resistance training. There is little information available on the effects of growth hormone on muscle mass or performance in athletes, although data suggest that growth hormone administration does not increase muscle protein synthesis. beta 2-Agonists, such as clenbuterol and salbutamol, when administered orally appear to improve muscular strength due to their potential role in increasing muscle mass. However, studies have not been done using athletes. Diuretics results in a loss of body water and hence bodyweight that can be advantageous for sports with strict bodyweight classifications. There is insufficient evidence on possible performance decrements in the field that could result from dehydration induced by the diuretics. Overall, the most significant concern in studies of drug use is the large inter-individual variability in responses to a drug. Further studies are needed to understand why some individuals are more responsive than others and to assess whether the responses are consistent for a given individual. Most studies of drug effectiveness have not used athletes. The effectiveness of many drugs may be reduced in highly trained athletes because there is a lower margin for improvement.
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PMID:Drugs and sport. Research findings and limitations. 942 62

Methamphetamine, called meth, crystal, or speed, is a central nervous system stimulant that can be injected, smoked, snorted, or ingested orally; prolonged use at high levels results in dependence. Methamphetamine (MA) is a derivative of amphetamine, which was widely prescribed in the 1950s and 1960s as a medication for depression and obesity, reaching a peak of 31 million prescriptions in the United States in 1967. Until the late 1980s, illicit use and manufacture of MA was endemic to California, but the MA user population has recently broadened in nature and in regional distribution, with increased use occurring in midwestern states. An estimated 4.7 million Americans (2.1% of the U.S. population) have tried MA at some time in their lives. Short- and long-term health effects of MA use include stroke, cardiac arrhythmia, stomach cramps, shaking, anxiety, insomnia, paranoia, hallucinations, and structural changes to the brain. Children of MA abusers are at risk of neglect and abuse, and the use of MA by pregnant women can cause growth retardation, premature birth, and developmental disorders in neonates and enduring cognitive deficits in children. MA-related deaths and admissions to hospital emergency rooms are increasing. Although inpatient hospitalization may be indicated to treat severe cases of long-term MA dependence, optimum treatment for MA abusers relies on an intensive outpatient setting with three to five visits per week of comprehensive counseling for at least the first three months. The burgeoning problems of increased MA use must be addressed by adequate treatment programs suitable for a variety of user types.
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PMID:History of the methamphetamine problem. 1090


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