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George L. Blackburn, MD, PhD; John P. Morgan, MD; Philip T. Lavin, PhD; Rudolf Noble, MD, PhD; Frank R. Funderburk, MA; Nawfal Istfan, MD, PhD

JAMA. 1989;261(22):3267-3272.

Abstract
Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) is frequently used in over-the-counter diet aids and cold medicines. In view of concern about the safety of this sympathomimetic agent, we undertook a double-blind, multicenter clinical trial to determine the factors that influence the pressor effect of short-term oral administration of PPA in healthy individuals. Eight hundred eighty-one healthy individuals in four categories of body weight were randomized to receive placebo capsules three times per day (n = 286), a 75-mg sustained-release PPA hydrochloride preparation once per day (n = 296) followed by two doses of placebo capsules, or a 25-mg immediate-release PPA hydrochloride preparation three times per day (n = 299). The median age of the study population was 28 years, 56% were men, 73% were white, and 47% were in excess of 30% above their ideal body weight. Measurements of pulse rate and supine and standing blood pressure were made 11 times during the day of PPA administration. A statistically significant but clinically unimportant pressor effect for the short-term administration of PPA was observed. The effect occurred in the first 6 hours after administration and was greater in the sustained-release group. Significant independent determinants of the pressor effect of PPA were baseline diastolic blood pressure, baseline body weight, and treatment.

(JAMA. 1989;261:3267-3272)

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Surgery (Drs Blackburn and Lavin) and Medicine (Dr Istfan), New England Deaconess Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; the Department of Pharmacology, City University of New York (NY) Medical School (Dr Morgan); Cathedral Hill Obesity Clinic, San Francisco, Calif (Dr Noble); and the Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Francis Scott Key Medical Center, Baltimore, Md (Mr Funderburk).

Footnotes
Reprint requests to the Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, New England Deaconess Hospital, 194 Pilgrim Rd, Boston, MA 02215(Dr Blackburn).

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