Sibutramine Dosing

The sibutramine dosing guidelines your healthcare provider will follow will vary based on several factors, such as how you respond to sibutramine, whether you develop side effects, other medical conditions you have, and other medications you are taking. Generally, the recommended starting sibutramine dosage is 10 mg once daily. Your healthcare provider may increase the dosage to 15 mg daily if you have not lost much weight after four weeks.

 

Sibutramine Dosing: An Introduction

The dose of sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate (Meridia®) your healthcare provider prescribes will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • How you respond to sibutramine
  • Whether you develop bothersome or dangerous side effects
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may currently be taking.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your sibutramine dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Sibutramine Dosing for Weight Loss

The recommended starting sibutramine dose for weight loss or weight maintenance is sibutramine 10 mg once daily. Your healthcare provider may increase the dose up to sibutramine 15 mg once daily if you have not lost much weight after taking sibutramine and dieting for four weeks.
 
If you do not tolerate sibutramine well, your healthcare provider may lower your dose to sibutramine 5 mg once daily.
 

General Sibutramine Dosing Information

Some considerations for people taking sibutramine include the following:
 
  • Sibutramine comes in the form of a capsule. It is taken by mouth once daily.
     
  • It does not matter if you take sibutramine on an empty stomach or with food. If sibutramine bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
     
  • Sibutramine should be combined with a low-calorie diet. It is not meant to be used without dieting.
     
  • For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed.
     
  • If you are unsure about anything related to your sibutramine dosage, please talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;