How does it work?

Sibutramine is an anti-obesity medicine. It works by affecting neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are stored in nerve cells and are involved in transmitting messages between the nerve cells. They are released from nerve cells as a message is transmitted. Once the message has been transmitted, the nerve cells then reabsorb the neurotransmitter. Sibutramine prevents two of these neurotransmitters, noradrenaline and serotonin, from being reabsorbed back into the nerve cells. Noradrenaline and serotonin are responsible for moderating mood and various other processes in the brain. It is thought that sibutramine helps people to lose weight by increasing the amount of noradrenaline and serotonin free to act in the brain. This enhances the feeling of fulfillment from eating, and so makes you feel satisfied after eating less food. This medicine is only prescribed to people who have not lost adequate weight using convential weight loss programmes alone (eg diet and exercise). However, you will need to continue with an appropriate diet and exericse programme while taking this medicine, which your doctor will assist you with.

What is it used for?

Obesity

Warning!

This medicine may reduce your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you and you are sure it won't affect your performance.

This medicine may be harmful to an unborn baby. Women of child-bearing age should use a reliable contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy while using this medicine.

Take this medicine in the morning.

Blood pressure and pulse rate should be monitored in all people taking this medication; every two weeks for the first three months, then once a month for the next three months, then regularly at maximum intervals of three months after that. Your doctor may ask you to stop taking this medicine if your blood pressure or pulse rate increase too much.

You should change your lifestyle in terms of eating habits and physical activity while taking this medicine, so that you are able to maintain your new weight after you have stopped treatment. Your doctor should advise you on the changes you need to make and continue to monitor your weight after you stop treatment. If you don't change your lifestyle you may regain the weight you have lost.

Consult your doctor if you experience shortness of breath, chest pain or ankle swelling while taking this medicine.

Use with caution in

Epilepsy

Family history of involuntary, recurrent muscle twitches or vocalisations (motor or verbal tics)

Mild to moderately decreased kidney function

Mild to moderately decreased liver function

Syndrome involving short spells when breathing stops during sleep

Not to be used in

Breastfeeding

Children and adolescents under 18 years of age

Closed angle glaucoma

History of blocked arteries in the extremities

History of coronary artery disease

History of drug, alcohol or medication abuse

History of heart failure

History of increased heart rate (tachycardia)

History of irregular heart beats (arrhythmias)

History of small temporary strokes

History of stroke

Hyperthyroidism

Obesity caused by a medical condition

People over 65 years of age

People with a history of anorexia nervosa

People with a history of bulimia nervosa

Pregnancy

Psychiatric disorders

Severely decreased kidney function

Severely decreased liver function

Syndrome characterised by involuntary repetition of speech, particularly obscene or vulgar words (Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome)

Tumour of the adrenal gland (phaeochromocytoma)

Uncontrolled high blood pressure

Urinary retention caused by an enlarged prostate gland

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

The safety of this medicine in pregnancy has not been established. It should not be taken by women who are pregnant, and women of child-bearing age who take this medicine should use effective contraception. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

There is no information available about the safety of this medicine during breastfeeding. For this reason, the manufacturer states that it should not be used during breastfeeding. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Headache

Constipation

Dry mouth

Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia)

Nausea

Sweating

Pins and needles (paraesthesia)

Awareness of your heartbeat (palpitations)

Alteration in taste

Hot flushes

Loss of appetite

Seizures

Lightheadedness

Decrease in the number of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia)

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Increased heart rate (tachycardia)

Anxiety

Aggravation of haemorrhoids

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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