Phentermine and Diethylpropion are contraindicated in patients with which history?

• A. Hyperlipidemia
• B. History of cardiovascular disease
• C. Asthma
• D. Controlled hypertension

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that these medications are stimulants that boost the sympathetic nervous system, raising heart rate and blood pressure and increasing the heart’s oxygen demand. In someone with a history of cardiovascular disease, this additional stimulation can trigger chest pain, arrhythmias, ischemia, or heart failure exacerbation. That’s why a history of cardiovascular disease is a clear contraindication.

Hyperlipidemia alone doesn’t create the same immediate cardiovascular risk with these drugs, asthma is unrelated to heart risk, and while controlling blood pressure is important, the presence of established cardiovascular disease poses the more direct and serious risk, making the history of cardiovascular disease the correct contraindication.