Eskatrol

Eskatrol was an amphetamine weight loss agent which was removed by the Food and Drug Administration in 1981 after its manufacturer^[1], SmithKline & French,^[2] was unable to prove the drug's effectiveness. At the time it was among the 200 most widely prescribed drugs in the United States. Another was Dexamyl tablets.^[1] Eskatrol contained dextroamphetamine sulfate.^[3]

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In August 1970 the F.D.A. sought to limit the use of pep pills by calling for changes in labeling which decreased the number of allowable claims and intensified the warnings about possible hazards. F.D.A. Commissioner, Charles C. Edwards, criticized the drug industry for not helping to prevent the abuse of amphetamines. Thomas M. Rauch, president of SmithKline & French laboratories, responded that his company had long promoted stricter drug abuse legislation and tighter controls on production and distribution. SmithKline & French also made Dexedrine and Benzedrine. The F.D.A. began to restrict amphetamine manufacturer claims to only three medical uses, two of them uncommon. The two rare conditions specified were narcolepsy and hyperactivity. The third permitted use was for suppressing appetite among persons who needed to lose weight. However, this would only be allowed for a total of a few weeks, and as a part of treatment for obesity.^[4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} U.S. Review of Prescription Drugs Ends, New York Times, September 16, 1984, Page 52.
2. ^ Advertising:Menley & James Turns To Love 1969 Style, January 26, 1969, Page F16.
3. ^ Pharmacist Arrested on Drug Charge, Los Angeles Times, July 16, 1975, Page A3.
4. ^ Pep Pill Makers Accused By F.D.A., New York Times, August 6, 1970, Page 1.