Weight Loss Drugs Prescription and OTC »
Taking a weight loss drug may not result in weight loss by itself. But using diet pills can help an overweight person stay on a diet because nearly all of these medications work on suppressing appetite. "Feeling full" is believed to be related to a number of biochemical processes in the body. Signals to indicate fullness come from fat cells and the gastrointestinal tract; these converge with signals in the central nervous system. Appetite suppressants target a couple of key neurotransmitters in this process: serotonin and norepinephrine. Increased levels of serotonin result in a feeling of fullness. Increasing norepinephrine levels stimulate the central nervous system, decreasing appetite. Only one drug among the weight loss medications works in a different way. Orlistat (Xenical, Alli) works in the gastrointestinal tract to prevent absorption of about a third of ingested fat.
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Please Note: This Brand Name drug is no longer available in the US.
This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: certain other weight loss medicines (e.g., diethylpropion, phentermine).
If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting sibutramine.
Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine) within 2 weeks before, during, and after treatment with this medication. In some cases a serious (possibly fatal) drug interaction may occur.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: antidepressants (e.g., citalopram, fluoxetine, venlafaxine), certain antipsychotics (phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, thioridazine), dextromethorphan, drugs used to treat migraine headaches (e.g., sumatriptan, ergotamine), ketoconazole, lithium, certain narcotic pain medications (e.g., fentanyl, meperidine, pentazocine), tryptophan.
This medication may rarely increase your risk for serious bleeding, especially if you take other drugs such as "blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin) or anti-platelet drugs (e.g., aspirin, clopidogrel). Sibutramine is generally not used in patients with heart disease, however, if you are prescribed any of these drugs for heart attack or stroke prevention, continue taking them and consult your doctor on how to minimize your risk of bleeding.
Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products, diet aids, herbal products) because they may contain ingredients that could increase your heart rate or blood pressure. These ingredients include pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, ephedra, and ma huang, among others. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of these products.
Avoid drinking large amounts of beverages containing caffeine (coffee, tea, colas). Caffeine can increase the side effects of this medication (e.g., increase your heart rate).
This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.
NOTES: Do not share this medication with others. It is against the law.
Have your blood pressure and heart rate (pulse) checked regularly while taking this medication. You can learn how to monitor your own blood pressure and pulse. Discuss this with your doctor.
For best results, this medication should be used along with an exercise program and reduced calorie diet as approved by your doctor. Behavior change counseling is also helpful. Consult your doctor for details.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
STORAGE: Store at room temperature (77 degrees F or 25 degrees C) away from heat and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
Information last revised November 2010 Copyright(c) 2010 First DataBank, Inc.
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