Sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate (
Meridia®) is a prescription weight loss medication. Not only is the drug approved to help people lose weight; it is also approved to help people from regaining the weight they have lost.
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with sibutramine. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
Common side effects include but are not limited to:
(Click Side Effects of Sibutramine to learn more, including potentially serious side effects you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking sibutramine if you have:
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
The dose of sibutramine your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- How you respond to the drug
- Whether you develop bothersome or dangerous side effects
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Other medications you may be taking.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
What If I Take an Overdose?
People who take too much sibutramine may experience the following symptoms:
If you happen to take too much, seek immediate medical attention.
How Should Sibutramine Be Stored?
Sibutramine capsules should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture and heat, in an airtight container. Keep this and all other medications out of the reach of children.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?
If you forget to take a dose of sibutramine, simply skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose or try to make up for missed doses.
How Does Sibutramine Work?
Sibutramine works by helping you to feel full more quickly. It acts in the brain, where it increases the levels of certain brain chemicals (including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine) in specific areas of the brain.
Sibutramine does not increase the production of brain chemicals. Instead, it prevents the "reuptake" of the chemicals. As a message travels down a nerve, it causes the end of the cell to release a brain chemical. The chemical enters the gap between the first nerve cell and the one next to it. When enough of the chemical reaches the second nerve cell, it activates receptors on the cell, and the message continues on its way. The first cell then quickly absorbs any of the extra chemical that remains in the gap between the cells, preventing the chemical from further activating the second cell. This is called "reuptake."
Sibutramine helps to block the reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, so more of these chemicals remain in the space between the brain's nerve cells. This gives the chemicals a better chance of activating the receptors on the next nerve cell. This action promotes a sense of fullness (the signal to stop eating). It does not suppress the appetite (the signal to start eating).
Studies have shown that sibutramine helps people lose weight. After six months of taking it while dieting, people lost up to 18 pounds, compared to just 2.9 pounds for people who were only dieting. Higher doses produced the greatest weight losses. Similar results were seen in a one-year study.
Clinical studies have also shown that sibutramine can help people who have already lost weight to keep the weight off. In one study, up to 43 percent of people taking the drug (plus dieting) were able to keep off at least 80 percent of their initial weight loss after two years, compared to only 3 percent of the people who were only dieting.
Studies have also shown that taking sibutramine (plus dieting) produced beneficial changes in
cholesterol levels (most likely as a result of the weight loss). Total
cholesterol, "bad" cholesterol (
LDL), and
triglyceride levels dropped, while "good" cholesterol (
HDL) levels increased.
Some general considerations for when and how to take sibutramine include the following:
- The medication comes in capsule form. It is taken by mouth once daily.
- You can take sibutramine with or without food. If the medication 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.
Sibutramine is made by Abbott Laboratories.
Sibutramine capsules come in the following strengths:
- Sibutramine 5 mg
- Sibutramine 10 mg
- Sibutramine 15 mg.
Is There a Generic Version of Sibutramine?
Currently, there are no generic versions of sibutramine licensed for sale
(see Generic Meridia).
