Fen-Phen Health Complications

Fen-Phen is associated to a lot of side effects, but usually the first side effect experienced with the dangerous pills is a shortness of breath, termed dyspnea or tiredness. For many people this side effect is not noticeable at first because the people using fen-phen are overweight or out of shape and may experience feeling short of breath and fatigue normally.

A racing pulse or the feeling of not getting enough air is normally the result of pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension occurs when there is high blood pressure in the artery that pushes oxygen-lacking blood from the heart to the lungs that causes shortness of breath. Many fen-phen users experience heart valve damage and leaks of the aortic valve and mitral valve.

Feeling dizzy and even fainting are the more typical early signs of fen-phen use, with swelling in the foot, ankle, or legs occurring later. Other fen-phen complications include a bluish appearance of the lips and skin, chest pain, or even death.

The toll that the diet drug places on one’s body is serious. Some of the cell lining of the capillaries within the lungs peels away and blood leads through into the muscle cells. These causes constriction and places pressure back onto the capillaries. The continuation of this process cuts off the blood flow between the heart and lungs, increasing pressure and causing the right side of the heart to expand. When left untreated, this fen-phen health complication can end in heart failure and death.

Early diagnosis and treatment of any side-effect or symptom experienced while taking a drug is a necessary step in preventing complications and severe health risks. If you had or still have health complications as the result of taking fen-phen please contact us to learn your legal rights.

Top of Page