Dr. Hitzig, PhenPhen Dr.

Hi Gang, I've seen some people mention the drug combination Phen-Fen that was taken off of the market years back. I started taking it about three months before it was taken off the market. Just curious, whatever happened to the big marketer of Phen-fen, Pietr Hitzig? I know he went to jail for seemingly giving the drug to anyone, anytime in any way (often through a simple phone interview). Does anyone know where he is? He must be getting up there in terms of age. I believe he was in his 70's back then. Last marketing effort I saw him involved in was "Phen-4" or, Phentermine and 5htp. Anyone know what happened to him? Thanks, David

Don't know anything about him, but my sister inlaw took that stuff for only 1 month and quit cause it never did her any good. she went on with her life and almost forgot about it until she started having medical problems and her Dr figured out what had happened. Now she has permanent damage and lost her job cause they will not let her work and her medical leave is all used up and her medical retirement is so low cause she is so young. She says the law suit people that took the case for most poeple who took it will not take her cause they say she needs are so much so that they cannot deal with it. She will have to have surgrey on her heart due to the complacations, but they want her to hang in there until her absoutly has to have the surgrey. Sad thing is she never was very over weight just a few what they call vanity pounds. Now cause she cannot work she is finally over weight she was a pole person for the power company. Sorry to be so long winded but when ever I think of this it upsets me she is one of my favorite people and was always my friend fat or thin unlike some poeple.

Yes, very sad story. I've heard there are people like that. I suppose it was a real danger for some. I took it for about three months, lost a lot of weight and had one of the happiest periods of my life. Recently, had an echocardiogram which showed no valve or chamber problems.

Hi David, Dr. Hitzig was sentenced to five years in prison in 2001. He was 60 at the time of sentencing. He also can never practice medicine. If you do a GOOGLE search, you will find all sorts of articles about him. HTH, Susan

Thanks, Susan. I guess he's either gotten out or will be getting out soon (did he actually do 5 years in?). As driven as he was for the Phen-fen cause, I'm surprise he isn't out and marketing some Phentermine combinations through other doc's. Of course, I suppose the Phentermine market is pretty saturated these days. He was a man on a mission. Really really seemed to believe in the Phen-fen concept or maybe it was just the handfulls of Phentermine he was taking! Best, David

I took it for over 6 months. lost lots of weight. I got a echo done, thanks to the law suit. My card doctor said that 30% of the population already has that heart disorder and doesn't even know it. I know of a woman with heart disease who went to a doctor who didn't know her and she didn't disclose all her health problems and he put her on phen-phen and yes she died. Her family sued the company. But really who's fault was it??? Until I had WLS, I have always said I would do phen-phen again. I do have mild heart condition but not necessarily related to the drugs. I guess when you are over weight you'll do anything to lose the pounds. Sad isn't it. I am much happier w/ WLS. I am down 35lbs only 6 weeks post op. Kathi

Hi David, I know all to well about Phen-Fen, I took it when I was 17yrs old, lost 60lbs, gained it back, and developed a regurgitave heart valve from it. I never had symptoms before I took it and I took it for 3 months, I noticed symptoms immediately after I took it and now I am in a law suit with a huge company and am about a couple months away from getting a 6 figure settlement, I would never advise anyone to take this medication, it has hurt too many people, that Dr. should be in jail, and as far as someone elses comments about who's fault is it, it is the anyone but the patients fault because we were unaware of the side effects it caused since they were never revealed. Had we known, most would not have taken the drug, I would not have since I now have a heart condition starting from age 17! I am now 25 and still suffer symptoms everyday from it. Kelly

Hi Kelly, That's such an awful condition to have at such a young age. Percentage-wise, wondering if you know how many people have gotten valve problems from Phen-fen? I've also heard that the "fen" drug (Fenflouramine) can actually physically and irreparably damage the brain, causing long-term depression and other problems. Take Care, David