Interaction of the anorectic medication, phendimetrazine, and its metabolites with monoamine transporters in rat brain
by
Rothman RB, Katsnelson M, Vu N, Partilla JS, Dersch CM, Blough BE, Baumann MH.
Clinical Psychopharmacology Section,
Intramural Research Program, NIDA,
NIH, 5500 Nathan Shock Drive, 21224,
Baltimore, MD, USA
CEur J Pharmacol 2002 Jun 28;447(1):51-7

ABSTRACT

Phendimetrazine is an effective and widely prescribed appetite suppressant. Preclinical findings show that phendimetrazine displays stimulant properties similar to amphetamine, but few studies have examined the neurochemical mechanism of the drug. In the present work, we characterize the activity of phendimetrazine and its putative metabolites [phenmetrazine, pseudophenmetrazine, and associated stereoisomers] at biogenic amine transporters. All drugs were tested in vitro using assays to measure uptake and release of [3H]dopamine, [3H]norepinephrine, and [3H]serotonin ([3H]5-HT) in rat brain synaptosomes. Selected drugs were tested in vivo using microdialysis to measure extracellular dopamine and serotonin (5-HT) in rat nucleus accumbens. Phendimetrazine itself had no effect on uptake or release of any transmitter. In contrast, the trans-configured N-demethylated metabolite, phenmetrazine, was a potent releaser of [3H]norepinephrine (EC(50)=50 nM) and [3H]dopamine (EC(50)=131 nM). The cis N-demethylated metabolite, pseudophenmetrazine, displayed modest potency at releasing [3H]norepinephrine (EC(50)=514 nM) and blocking [3H]dopamine re-uptake (IC(50)=2630 nM). All drugs tested were inactive or weak in the [3H]5-HT assays. When injected intravenously, phendimetrazine had minimal effects on extracellular transmitter levels, whereas phenmetrazine produced dose-related elevations in extracellular dopamine. The collective findings suggest that phendimetrazine is a "prodrug" that is converted to the active metabolite phenmetrazine, a potent substrate for norepinephrine and dopamine transporters.

Stereotypies
Neurotoxicity
VTA/glutamate
CNS stimulants
Self-medication
Worms on speed
Dopamine uptake
Sleep-deprivation
Canine narcolepsy
Appetite suppressants
Phenmetrazine (Preludin)
Phendimetrazine (Bontril, Obex): prescribing info

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