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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #200908
Title: SIBUTRAMINE AND THE MANAGEMENT OF OBESITY

Author
item POSTON, WALKER - UNIV MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY
item Foreyt, John

Submitted to: Expert Opinion in Pharmacotherapy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2004
Publication Date: 3/1/2004
Citation: Poston, W.S.C., Foreyt, J.P. 2004. Sibutramine and the management of obesity. Expert Opinion in Pharmacotherapy. 5(3):633-642.

Interpretive Summary: This study examines the use of a presceiption drug in the long-term management of obesity. The costs and benefits of the use of this agent are also reviewed. These findings advance the multi-disciplinary treatment of obesity.

Technical Abstract: Sibutramine is a selective serotonin and noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor approved for the long-term management of obesity. Its primary mechanism of action is increased satiety, although some evidence also suggests increased energy expenditure could play a role in sibutramine-induced weight loss. It has established general efficacy in long-term trials, with clinically approved doses of 10 and 15 mg. Sibutramine has also been studied in a number of unique populations, including obese controlled hypertensives, diabetics and ethnic minorities, further establishing its effectiveness. However, it does have a consistent effect of increasing blood pressure and pulse. Thus, blood pressure and heart rate should be monitored in patients using sibutramine and it may not be applicable in obese patients with significant cardiovascular disease.