Drug & supplement interaction

Phenpromethamine + Diethylpropion

Diethylpropion brand names: Radtue, Tenuate, Durad, Tenuate Dosepan.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Phenpromethamine has a moderate interaction with Diethylpropion. Theoretically, taking phenpromethamine with stimulant drugs might have additive effects and increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular effects.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Interaction report

Phenpromethamine and Diethylpropion

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

STIMULANT DRUGS

Why this applies to Diethylpropion

Diethylpropion falls under STIMULANT DRUGS — the group Phenpromethamine interacts with.

Theoretically, taking phenpromethamine with stimulant drugs might have additive effects and increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular effects.
Phenpromethamine is a sympathomimetic compound with stimulant properties.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version: diethylpropion (Tenuate) is itself a stimulant that curbs appetite, and it already nudges up your heart rate and blood pressure. Phenpromethamine is also a stimulant. Pairing two stimulants doesn't cancel out, it tends to stack on top of each other. So in theory you could see a faster or pounding heartbeat, higher blood pressure, jitteriness, trouble sleeping, headache, or a wound-up, anxious feeling.

I want to be honest that this concern is based on how these drugs work, not on solid studies, so it's theoretical. Even so, phenpromethamine is a banned ingredient hidden in some weight-loss and sports products and isn't a true supplement. The safest move is to avoid any product listing it and to check with your pharmacist or doctor first.

References
  1. Cohen PA, Travis JC, Vanhee C, Ohana D, Venhuis BJ. Nine prohibited stimulants found in sports and weight loss supplements: deterenol, phenpromethamine (Vonedrine), oxilofrine, octodrine, beta-methylphenylethylamine (BMPEA), 1,3-dimethylamylamine (1,3-DMA

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Phenpromethamine Also Interacts With Other Medications

Phenpromethamine has 171 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Diethylpropion one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Phenpromethamine

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Phenpromethamine. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Diethylpropion

This page covers Phenpromethamine only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Diethylpropion page lists 61 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Peyote (major), Rauvolfia Vomitoria (major) and Sida Cordifolia (major).

By severity: 5 major · 43 moderate · 13 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Diethylpropion page

“Diethylpropion (Tenuate) is an appetite suppressant that works by revving up the nervous system, and that mechanism is why its interaction list calls for real vigilance. Of the 61 supplements and herbs on file, 44 add their own stimulant push, raising the risk of high blood pressure, a pounding heart, and sleeplessness.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Diethylpropion interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Phenpromethamine and Diethylpropion Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Phenpromethamine
Steady interest

#1,118 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Diethylpropion
Steady interest

#2,331 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Phenpromethamine

What is Phenpromethamine?

  • Nasal decongestion (historical)
  • Stimulant effects (misuse)
  • Pre-workout 'energy' (illegally added to some products)

Phenpromethamine is a synthetic stimulant drug, not a herb or legitimate dietary supplement. It has been found illegally added to some sports and weight-loss supplements, and it is not approved for use in the United States. You should avoid any product that lists it as an ingredient and talk to a pharmacist or doctor.

Read the full Phenpromethamine monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Diethylpropion

What Is Diethylpropion Used For?

Brand names: Radtue, Tenuate, Durad, Tenuate Dosepan

Diethylpropion is used to help manage exogenous obesity (excess body weight from outside factors like diet) in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher who haven't lost enough weight through diet and exercise alone. It is meant to be used for only a few weeks as part of a calorie-restricted diet plan.

All available tablet products — both the immediate-release tablets and the extended-release tablets — are approved for this purpose. Each is approved for use as a single medication only; combining diethylpropion with any other weight-loss drug is not allowed.

See full Diethylpropion drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Phenpromethamine

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Phenpromethamine — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
171Moderate
0Minor
2,658No known interaction
Moderate

171 interactions

Showing 60 of 171 moderate interactions — see all 171 on the Phenpromethamine page.

No interaction 2,658 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Phenpromethamine and Diethylpropion Together: Common Questions

Can you take Phenpromethamine with Diethylpropion?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Phenpromethamine and Diethylpropion interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Diethylpropion and Phenpromethamine?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.