Physicians shun pills in 'battle of bulge'
Bv LYNN WILLIAMS
Staff Reporter
Amphetamine diet pills are an ineffective and potentially harmful way to fight the battle of the bulge, according to several Lawrence doctors and the Food and Drugs Administration.
There is a movement in the FDA to remove its approval of diet pills containing amphiphetens, Lorela Meyers, consumer affairs officer for the Kansas City district of the FDA, said recently. Such a step would result in a large decrease in diet pill production, she said.
Amphetamines are an appetite depressant. They stimulate the central nervous system, which raises the blood pressure and increases the respiratory rate and heart heat. Tolerance to the drug builds up.
EIGHTY-EIGHT percent of all legal amphetamines are prescribed for weight loss, Meyers said, and a quarter of the amphetamines being used today are obtained with a lethal prescription.
But it would be difficult if not impossible, to obtain a prescription for amphetamines from several Lawrence doctors. They say amphetamines are justified only in the treatment of neuropathy (sleeping sickness), and minimal brain dysfunction in children.
"I not only think it's unethical, I think it's criminal
to prescribe them for dieting," Byron Walters,
physician at Watkins Park and lecturer in oc-
casion.
Walters said he had received requests by mail for amphibians years after he had prescribed them to him.
He said he knew of no doctor at Watkins Hospital who prescribed amoethetines.
SYDNEY SCHROEDER, psychiatrist at Watkins,
says. "They're a very seductive kind of thing to take.
They make you feel like they're going to kill."
Schroeder said he did not prescribe amphetamines because of the attitude of the Food and Drug Administration toward them. But he said there might have been an overreaction to the dangers of amphetamines. There are some cases in which they can be used safely, he said.
R. L. Hermes, a gynecologist, said, "Very few ethical doctors will prescribe appetite suppressants anymore. Doctors are worried about patients getting honed up and hooked."
Monti Belot, a physician, said, "I do not believe there is any reason for amputations to be made."
Barn Bobres, a family physician, said, "The hazards far outweigh any benefit you might get from them. By using an appetite suppressant you are holding off the really true issue."
BUT BARNES said he did not consider the prescribing of ampetamines for weight loss to be unethical. He said some people could use them without abusing them.
One Lawrence osteopath does prescribe amphetamines for dieting patients who have developed a tolerance to weaker diet medications "to get the job done."
He said he was careful to prescribe them only to patients who wanted to use them for dieting, however. It is all right to prescribe them because they are not "obsvitalisantly addictive". he said.
Tom Tyler, graduate student of pharmacology and toxicology, said, "In terms of the classical addiction syndrome, amphetamines are just psychologically addictive."
But there is documentation of some physical and much emotional discomfort, including frightening hallucinations and deep depression in amphetamine addicts who went "cold turkey."
TYLER IS conducting research to find if there is an "antagonist" to amphenatines. An antagonist to a drug is a chemical that counters the effects of the drug. Tyler said if a chemical that blocked the feelings of euphoria resulting from amphenatines were used, doctors would prescribe amphenatines without worry.
Even if such a chemical were found, doctors would probably not prescribe amphenylates wholesale to their dieting patients, partly because they offended the body. weight loss has been only partially substantiated.
"If you can block the pleasant experience then it
wouldn't become a drug of abuse as easily," he said.
Barnes said according to studies that he'd read, ampatetmises work as an appetite depressant for children.
ALTHOUGH SMITH, Kline and French Laboratories, a national company, advertise amphenathes as a possible treatment for obesity, the flyer sent to pharmacists about Dexedrine, a form of amphenatheme, says it has "a limited role" in a weight control program. The advertisement adds that饺pills do not necessarily affect the appetite, but many of the central nervous system or the metabolism instead.
"It could be that you're just too busy to eat when it could be," Richard Tessera, assistant professor of food safety.
The knowledge that amphetamines were psychologically addictive and the fact that they were essential only in the treatment of certain diseases that require a physician's care, led law makers to put amphetamins in Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.
Schedule II drugs are classified as the most
dangerous drugs legally obtainable in the United States.
THEY REQUIRE is prescription written by a physician. Kansas law has the refilling of any prescription for the item displayed in Figure 18.
Doctors try to prescribe the smallest amount of amphetamines necessary to decrease the possibility that patients taking them will get hooked, Randolph Cox, pharmacist at Super X store drug store. said.
A student who works at the computation center said she was prescribed amphetamines for weight loss several years ago while she was pregnant. She said she grew to hate the drug.
She would use them for only a few months at a time and found that they curbed her appetite, but also "drove her up the wall" and made her irritated with her children, she said.
Because she had not begun to solve her weight problem until this year, she was doubtful about the results of her workout.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
She said she suffered from the initial effects of the fast jails she was arrested when she was 16.
"I'm pretty much convinced that the pills slow you up if anything," she said of long term weight reduction.
I would get a feeling of doom in the pit of my stomach, and I would pass that past. I wouldn't be hungry for the rest of the day.
KANSAN
Vol. 89, No. 71
The University of Kansas—Lawrence. Kansas
Giving concerts 'stock in trade' of Daniels band
Friday, December 8, 1978
KU finds poise against Titans, 90-77
See story page eight
By MELISSA THOMPSON
The Charlie Daniels Band bus was late pulling into the parking lot at the Holiday Inn yesterday afternoon, but within a few minutes, the band's leader had his hotel door opened wide to local press and photographers.
Daniels, who is known for his easygoing nature and openness, conducted the session.
He sat back in a chair near the room's window. Snow in the parking lot reflected in the window. He asked, would it would picture his answers by sending a stream of brown tobacco juice thumping into the snow?
Daniels talked about himself, his career and his band with an earnestness that his wife appreciated.
"Music's the first and foremost thing," he said.
"WERE NOT a 'super group,' but we're probably one of the most serious groups in the business in terms of what we’re trying to achieve and how we so about getting it."
He said if he had to name goals for the band, they would be to have every record go platinum and have every concert be a sellout.
"We're a ways away from that, though" he said. He sealt again and rinned.
"I wouldn't record 'Disco Duck,'" he said. A stream of brown juice spattered into
Daniels said his band may not have increased in popularity with any speed, but it had worked long and hard and didn't follow any fads or trends.
Fired up
See CHARLIE DANIELS back page
night in Hoch Auditorium. The concert was their second in a tour promoting a recently-finished album. Also appearing with Daniels was the Billy Sperls Band, a local country and bluegrass group.
The Charlie Daniels Band played its peculiar brand of country-jazz-rock music before a crowd of about 2,000 last pearling with Daniels was the Billy Spears Band, a local country and bluegrass group.
Late grades cause concern
BY JARE THUMPSON
Staff Reporter
As of two weeks ago, grades from 100 courses taught last spring at the University of Kansas had not been turned in to the office of admissions and records. The chairman of the University Council planning and resources committee said yesterday.
"We are concerned on behalf of the dean of admissions and records of the fact that as of two weeks ago there were 100 courses from spring semester in which course grades had not been turned in," Goodman said.
Grant Goodman, the chairman and professor of East Asian Studies, told the University Council he did not know how many students were affected.
He was asked by William Scott, professor of English, whether some of the course grades were those for students or candidates for dissertations.
GIL DYCK, dek of admissions and records, acknowledged Wednesday that some grades had not been turned in, but he chose to name the instructors involved.
Dyck also did not specify how many students were involved. He said the problem occurred each semester and his
Goodman said he did not know
office spent time at the end of every semester tracking down the grades or making special dispensations for students.
Goodman said a letter would be sent to Dyck ask for details and suggestions to help decrease the number of outstanding grades.
REPRESENTATIVES of the planning and resources committee were allowed to observe budget hearings in the offices of three vice chancellors; Ron Calgaard, vice chancellor for academic affairs; David Ambler, vice chancellor for student affairs; and Frances Horwitz, vice chancellor for research and graduate studies.
He also said that after his committee sat in on more than 30 University budget conferences in recent weeks, he was surprised by some of the discussions.
"The these hearings have a great emphasis on short run concerns rather than on long-term goals," he said. "We also express some concern on a general level, but the matter instead of academic matters. There was little, if any, reference to affirmative action and little, if any, reference to preventive planning."
Goodman said the conference concentrated on the financial aspects of the budget process, but neglected important factors.
Profits from surcharge alledged
Bv BARB KOENIG
Staff Reporter
Financial statements show that the University of Kansas Athletic Corporation might be making money from a 1966 plan to fund a new football stadium.
A surcharge of $ on football tickets and $4 on basketball tickets was implemented in 1968 to pay off a $535,000 loan to the KUAC from the Kansas University Endowment Association.
But Mike Harper, student body president, said yesterday that he thought the KUAC probably was making a profit from the college.
Doug Messer, KUAC business manager, would not comment on the alleviation.
"I think it's unfair to use a surcharge for a specific item as another source of income," Harper said.
Harper said he learned of the possible additional revenue when he compared the amount of the negotiated loan
payments with season ticket income. The comparison showed that the season ticket income was greater than the regular season ticket income.
BECAUSE FIGURES on how much the KUAC actually paid each year on the loan have not been obtained, Harper is unable to provide this information.
The corporation may pay more each year than the loan agreement calls for. If more money were paid each year than the loan agreement called for, Harper said, the loan could have been paid off two or three years ago.
Harper and Jon Josserand, Johnson law student, yesterday drew up a resolution proposing the elimination of the Supreme Court.
Harper and Josserand, both student members of the KUAC Advocacy Board, present the resolution to the MOU.
"I hope they approve it," Harper said. "If they don't we will have to do something else."
A new surcharge was placed on student and public tickets this year, to help pay annual installments of $168,000 on the $1.8 million loan. The student surcharge is 50 cents a game and the parent's surcharge is 30 cents a game. The surcharge is $1 a game for each ticket or $6 for the season.
HARPER AS asked Richard Winter, chairman of the Senate Finance and Auditing Committee, to review the KUAC's loan payments to determine whether the corporation was profitting from the surcharge.
BECAUSE THE surcharge has not been reviewed, and the athletic department seemingly has made no move to review it before the 1980 expiration date. Harper said, he is convinced the surcharge is being continued.
An investigation into the status of the surcharge began earlier this semester because Harper suspected the corporation would try to continue the 1966 surcharge to pay for the existing stadium. The Endowment Association for a recent stadium renovation.
Med Center funds cut $1.2 million
Bv DAN WINTER
Staff Reporter
The largest funding slash ever dealt the University of Kansas Medical Center was handed down Wednesday in the form of a $1.26 million cut in a supplemental budget request, according to a KU official.
The cut was made by state budget director James Bibb, who also rejected a proposal from KU for a 20 percent increase in state funds for fiscal 1980. Instead of the 20 percent recommendation, he recommended a 6.2 percent increase for the next fiscal year.
The budget cuts were listed in a letter sent to the official, Keith Nichter, University director of business affairs, after KU requested a supplemental budget request to cover operating costs that were greater than expected.
KU also presented its proposed 1980 budget to Bibb. KU's
1980 budget request was $117,898,037. Bibb reduced it to $106,671,399.
Richard Von Ende, University executive secretary, said Dykes would be interested in getting the salary increase.
CHANCELLOR ARCHIE R. Dykes will attend budget hearings before Gov.elect John Carlin Tuesday and attempt to justify KU's requests for 1980 and the current fiscal year.
"These cuts are larger than we have been used to in recent years," Nitcher said. The "fiscal 1979 reductions are excessive. The total overall reductions, including the 1880 request, are higher than we've ever experienced."
"Of course, we want to get all the funds back," he said, "but we're especially interested in the salary funding, the funding for the new hospital, for the Outreach programs for the Witchita branch."
KR REQUESTED $85,293,006 in general use funds for
municipal 180, but Bibb cut that figure to $74,568,688.
The remaining funds are to be used for
other purposes.
Bibb did not recommend any money to fund expanded radiation therapy and diagnostic radiology services, additional laboratory automation equipment, additional laboratory personnel or ambulatory care improvements.
Bibb reduced to $2,198,211 a $7,297,777 request for maintenance and expanded open space in Center's headquarters. Open in May. *
Nitcher said Bibb made several cuts in the proposed budget after reviewing how much had been spent in those areas in previous years. Those reductions included $727,000 for training programs and $41,000 for Outreach programs, $241,000 from administration;
See BUDGET back page