Eskatrol was an amphetamine weight loss agent which was removed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1981 after its manufacturer,[1] SmithKline & French (SKF),[2] failed to prove the therapeutic effectiveness (Emax) of the medication. At the time it was among the 200 most widely prescribed drugs in the United States. Others included Dexamyl and Desbutal pills.[1] Eskatrol contained dextroamphetamine sulfate (Dexedrine)[3] and prochlorperazine (Compazine), a typical antipsychotic.

In August 1970, the FDA sought to limit the use of stimulants by calling for changes in labeling which decreased the number of allowable claims and intensified the warnings about possible hazards. The FDA Commissioner, Charles C. Edwards, criticized the pharmaceutical industry for not helping to prevent the drug abuse of amphetamines. Thomas M. Rauch, president of SKF Laboratories, responded that his company had long promoted stricter abuse legislation and tighter controls on production and distribution. SKF also manufactured dextroamphetamine sulfate (Dexedrine) and racemic amphetamine sulfate (Benzedrine) pills. The FDA then established restrictions onto amphetamine treatment claims by manufacturers, limiting the total number of amphetamine indications to only three medical uses. These were specified to be the two rare conditions of narcolepsy and hyperactivity with the third permitted indication being for appetite suppression among obese patients. However, usage of amphetamines as anorexic agents will only be indicated for short-term obesity treatment not to exceed a few weeks.[4]

Jimmy Buffett references Eskatrol in his song "Fool Button," stating that mixing it with a bottle of rum will enable one to act foolishly to have a good time.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Molotsky, Irvin (16 September 1984). "U.S. REVIEW OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ENDS". The New York Times. Vol. CXVIII, no. 40545 (National ed.). p. 52. eISSN 1553-8095. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  2. ↑ Dougherty, Philip H. (26 January 1969). "Menley & James Turns to Love 1969 Style". Business. The New York Times. Vol. CXVIII, no. 40545 (Late City ed.). p. 16. eISSN 1553-8095. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Retrieved 15 December 2021. Smith Kline & French, which has been making Thorazine, Compazine, Dexedrine and Eskatrol is now making Love.
  3. ↑ Pharmacist Arrested on Drug Charge, Los Angeles Times, July 16, 1975, Page A3.
  4. ↑ Schmeck Jr., Harold M. (6 August 1970). "'PEP PILL' MAKERS ACCUSED BY F.D.A." The New York Times (Late City ed.). p. 1. eISSN 1553-8095. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021. The third allowable use is in suppressing appetite among persons who need to lose weight. But this use would be condoned only as an adjunct to obesity treatment and only for a maximum of a few weeks.


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