Recommendation (5/9/98) for Patients who
have Taken Pondimin or Redux

The medications fenfluramine, marketed as
Pondimin, and dexfenfluramine, marketed as Redux, were taken off the
market on September 15, 1997, because they were suspected to cause
valvular heart disease. Although initial uncontrolled studies at the
time indicated that large numbers of patients who had taken these
medications might be at risk for valvular heart disease, current
information suggests that the number of affected patients may be far
smaller than initially feared. For example, a recent study conducted
at Georgetown University of over 1000 patients who had taken Redux
for three months demonstrated no clinically significant valvular
heart disease. At BE-LITE, we are aware of no patients who developed
serious problems from taking either Pondimin or Redux. For example,
of the almost 50 echocardiogram reports we've received, all are
normal.

Research underway at sites around the
country will clarify important issues regarding this medical safety
matter. The BE-LITE medical center supports the interim guidelines
issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published
in Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report (November 14, 1997) for
patients who had taken either Pondimin or Redux.

 We recommend that:

All persons who have taken Pondimin or
Redux for any period of time should have a thorough medical history
and cardiovascular physical examination by either a Board Certified
cardiologist or Board Certified internist.

2. All persons who have been found to
have signs (e.g. new heart murmur) or symptoms (e.g. shortness of
breath) of cardiac problems should have an echocardiographic
evaluation.

Please note that an echocardiogram is not
an EKG. An EKG measures the electrical activity of the heart and can
be used to detect disturbances of the rate and rhythm of the heart.
An echocardiogram is similar to an ultrasound test used to see unborn
babies - it uses sound waves to see the heart valves.