Madeleine Hull
During the 1970s, diet pills containing amphetamines were widely available and commonly prescribed. One popular diet pill during this time was Obetrol, which combined amphetamine salts with methamphetamine. First approved by the FDA in 1960, Obetrol was marketed for the treatment of obesity and was available in 10 mg and 20 mg strengths. In 1970, the FDA issued an order requiring new drug applications for previously approved amphetamine products, leading to the withdrawal of approval for Obetrol in 1973. While the formula was changed to exclude methamphetamine, it continued to be sold under the same brand name. The availability and prescription of amphetamines and methamphetamine-based medications during the 1960s and 1970s contributed to their recreational use and abuse.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet pills in the 70s contained methamphetamine | Yes, diet pills in the 1970s contained methamphetamine. Obetrol, a popular diet pill in the 1950s and 1960s, contained a combination of amphetamine and methamphetamine. In 1970, the FDA required new drug applications for previously approved amphetamine products, and in 1973, the FDA withdrew approval for Obetrol, leading to a reformulation that excluded methamphetamine. |
| Addiction and abuse | Diet pills containing amphetamines and methamphetamine were widely abused and led to addiction in the 1960s and 1970s. The availability of methamphetamine-based medications and the ease of obtaining prescriptions contributed to their recreational use. |
| Regulation and control | In the 1970s, there was increased focus on regulating and controlling amphetamine and methamphetamine use. The Controlled Substances Act was passed in 1970, and by 1971, amphetamine products were classified as Schedule II drugs, requiring strict prescriptions and record-keeping by doctors and pharmacists. |
| Military use | Amphetamines and methamphetamine were used by military forces during World War II to enhance performance and increase wakefulness. |
| Brand names and marketing | Diet pills with methamphetamine were marketed under various brand names, including Obetrol, Black Beauties, Clarkotabs, and rainbow diet pills. They were often marketed directly to doctors and sold through special walk-in clinics. |
| Side effects and dangers | Side effects and dangers of diet pills containing methamphetamine included dependence, elevated blood pressure, and stimulant-induced psychosis. |
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What You'll Learn
Obetrol was a popular diet pill in the 1950s and 1960s
During the 1950s and 1960s, Obetrol was a commonly prescribed diet pill, with doctors handing out prescriptions with little to no consultation. This normalization of amphetamine use was fueled by concerns about weight, and the drugs were prescribed with a reckless abandon that would be criticized in later decades. The pills were often marketed in multiple colors, creating the illusion of personalized medicine, and kickbacks were given to prescribing doctors.
In 1960, the original formulation of amphetamine mixed salts and methamphetamine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the name Obetrol. Between 1965 and 1973, Obetrol was marketed in 10 mg and 20 mg strengths through Obetrol Pharmaceuticals, a division of the American pharmaceutical company Rexar. When sold directly to physicians, it was known by the brand name Oby-Rex.
The availability of methamphetamine-based medications in the 1960s led to their abuse as recreational drugs. In 1970, the FDA began to crack down on amphetamine products, requiring new drug applications for previously approved products. In 1973, the FDA withdrew approval for Obetrol, citing vague and incomplete research. In response, Rexar reformulated Obetrol to exclude methamphetamine salts and continued to sell this new formulation under the same brand name.
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The FDA withdrew approval for Obetrol in 1973
Obetrol was a popular diet pill in America in the 1950s and 1960s. The drug, which combined several amphetamine salts, was indicated for the treatment of exogenous obesity. Obetrol was originally sold by the American company Obetrol Pharmaceuticals, which later became a division of Rexar Pharmacal Corporation, headquartered in Brooklyn, New York.
In 1960, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the original formulation of Obetrol, which contained a mixture of amphetamine mixed salts and methamphetamine. From 1965 to 1973, Obetrol was marketed in 10 mg and 20 mg strengths through the Obetrol Pharmaceuticals division of Rexar. When sold directly to physicians, it was known by the brand name Oby-Rex.
In the 1970s, concerns about the dangers of methamphetamine grew, and the FDA began to crack down on amphetamine products. In 1970, the FDA issued an order requiring new drug applications for previously approved amphetamine products, including combinations of amphetamines and non-amphetamines. This order also affected Obetrol, as the FDA now considered amphetamine and methamphetamine mixtures as combination drugs, requiring each ingredient to be proven effective and safe individually and in combination.
In September 1973, the FDA withdrew its approval for Obetrol under the FDA Drug Efficacy Study Implementation program. The FDA cited issues with the research submitted, including vague and subjective data, lack of controls, incomplete information, and failure to test individual ingredients.
Following the FDA's decision, Rexar reformulated Obetrol to exclude methamphetamine salts. They continued to sell this new formulation under the same Obetrol brand name. However, this new formulation was unapproved and later rebranded as Adderall, which gained FDA approval for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in 1996.
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Amphetamines were prescribed for sleep disorders, depression and weight loss in the 1930s
Amphetamines were prescribed for a variety of purposes in the 1930s, including sleep disorders, depression, and weight loss. During this time, amphetamine's stimulant effects were being studied by scientists, and newly available Benzendrine salts were put into pills and prescribed for a range of issues.
Amphetamine therapy for "neurotic" depression was quickly accepted by psychiatrists and neurologists in the late 1930s. The influential Harvard psychiatrist Abraham Myerson theorised that amphetamine adjusted the hormonal balance in the central nervous system, promoting activity and extraversion. Amphetamine was successfully marketed as the first antidepressant in the late 1930s and 1940s, with a particular understanding of depression as anhedonia.
Amphetamines were also prescribed for sleep disorders during this period. As World War II began, Northwestern University physiologist Andrew Ivy proposed testing Benzedrine against other wakefulness aids. Benzedrine kept soldiers awake, alert, and ready to fight, even without adequate sleep. It also altered their behaviour in combat, reducing signs of fear or anxiety.
Additionally, about one-third of amphetamine prescriptions in the 1930s were for weight loss. Diet pills containing amphetamines were commonly prescribed in the 1960s and 1970s, often with colourful pills creating the illusion of personalised medicine. Obetrol, a popular diet pill in America in the 1950s and 1960s, contained a combination of amphetamine and methamphetamine salts.
While amphetamines were initially prescribed for various purposes, their use eventually became more controlled due to growing awareness of their negative health consequences.
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'Speed freak' culture in the 1970s
Amphetamine and methamphetamine are central nervous system stimulants. Colloquially, they are known as "speed" when used recreationally. Amphetamine was first synthesized in 1887, but it wasn't until 1934 that it found a pharmacological use, when Smith, Kline & French began selling it as an inhaler under the trade name Benzedrine for congestion. During World War II, amphetamine and methamphetamine were used extensively by both Allied and Axis forces for their stimulant and performance-enhancing effects.
In the 1950s, Obetrol, a combination of amphetamine and methamphetamine, was a popular diet pill in America. In 1960, the FDA approved Obetrol for the treatment of exogenous obesity. Amphetamine and methamphetamine were also available without a prescription in the form of rainbow diet pills, which were marketed as offering a "proven formula for pleasingly uniform weight reduction."
By the 1960s, the dangers of amphetamines—dependence, elevated blood pressure, and stimulant-induced psychosis—were becoming increasingly known. In 1965, beat writer Allen Ginsberg, a member of the hippie counterculture, criticized substituted amphetamines in an interview with the Los Angeles Free Press, saying, "Speed is antisocial, paranoid-making, it's a drag... all the nice gentle dope fiends are getting screwed up by the real horror monster Frankenstein speed freaks who are going round stealing and bad-mouthing everybody." However, he also acknowledged that he had used speed to stay up all night writing.
In 1969, undercover journalist Susanna McBee exposed the magnitude of America's amphetamine use, which had been "normalized during war, fueled by weight worries, and prescribed with almost reckless abandon until the 1970s." In 1970, the FDA issued an order requiring new drug applications for previously approved amphetamine products, and the following year, the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) shifted all amphetamine products to Schedule II, which required a fresh prescription each time and mandated that doctors and pharmacists keep strict records or face prosecution.
Despite these efforts, in 1973, the FDA withdrew approval for Obetrol, citing vague and incomplete research. However, by reformulating Obetrol to exclude methamphetamine salts, Rexar Pharmaceuticals was able to continue selling the drug under the same brand name. By the late 1970s, amphetamines had become relatively minor drugs of abuse, while illicit cocaine use was on the rise.
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'Black Beauties' were marketed as diet pills in the 1970s
Amphetamine-based medications were widely used in the 20th century for various purposes, including nasal decongestion, asthma treatment, and weight loss. After World War II, amphetamines became more readily available for both medical and non-medical uses. During the 1950s, amphetamine-based stimulants, including the drug Obetrol, gained popularity as appetite suppressants and weight loss aids.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the use of amphetamine-based stimulants continued to rise, and medications such as Dexedrine and Dexamyl became commonly prescribed. During this time, "Black Beauties" referred to various forms of amphetamine-based stimulant medications that were often prescribed as diet pills for weight loss and to treat certain medical conditions. These pills were typically black or dark-colored and were used as appetite suppressants to aid in weight loss.
Black Beauties, also known by the trade name Biphetamine 20, contained a combination of 10 mg of amphetamine and 10 mg of dextroamphetamine. They were widely considered a cheap and legal alternative to cocaine and were popular among those seeking a stimulant or "high" effect. While initially used as a street drug in the 1960s, Black Beauties surged in popularity in the 1970s as a recreational drug.
In 1965, Black Beauties became illegal without a prescription, and their use began to decline after the Controlled Substances Act was passed in 1970. Biphetamine 20 was eventually withdrawn from the market in 1998, and Black Beauties are no longer legally marketed. Amphetamines, in general, are now tightly controlled substances due to their potential for abuse and dependence, as well as various health risks.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, diet pills in the '70s did contain methamphetamine. Obetrol, a popular diet pill brand in America, contained a mixture of amphetamine and methamphetamine salts.
Yes, doctors prescribed these pills to their patients seeking weight loss. In 1969, an undercover journalist named Susanna McBee exposed the magnitude of America's amphetamine use, which was fueled by weight worries and recklessly prescribed by doctors.
No, these pills were not safe. High doses and untested combinations were common, and the side effects of methamphetamine were not well-studied at the time. The dangers of amphetamine use included dependence, elevated blood pressure, and stimulant-induced psychosis.
Yes, in 1970, the FDA issued an order requiring new drug applications for previously approved amphetamine products. In 1971, the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) shifted all amphetamine products to Schedule II, which required strict record-keeping by doctors and pharmacists.
Yes, during World War II, both the Allied and Axis forces experimented with giving methamphetamine to select servicemen for its stimulant and performance-enhancing effects. The German and Japanese militaries supplied methamphetamine to their soldiers, and the US military supplied Benzedrine, an amphetamine-based drug.
