the side effects are the reason many GP's won't prescribe it any more - i know my dad was on it for YEARS - he physically couldn't exercise (is riddled with arthritis due to a motorcycle accident) and when his usual long-term GP had to give up practice due to cancer and a stroke, he had to try at least five other GP's in the same clinic before he could get a script for it, and then it was a lower dose each time until he forced dad to wean off them.

they are really hard to get (with good reason) - you'd be surprised (or maybe not) of the black market in them for people in certain industries (driving etc) - while a script may cost $100 to fill, the tablets sell for at least double that (a few years back it was $5 or more for each tablet). so the GP's are very reluctant to prescribe them. it's not only bad for your body, but it's bad (in general) for people on the roads when this stuff is purchased simply for the speed factor. and the boys on the road - they know how to get the fastest strongest reaction from it (trust me!).

it should be taken off the market - but while there is a market like there is at the moment, for obese people asking for any possible help cos "nothing else has helped", they won't take it off the market. until there is proof that using it AS PRESCRIBED leads to patient or community deaths in large numbers, they won't do anything about it.