What is Sibutramine?
Sibutramine (Meridia) is one of the new classes of appetite suppressants. It also works on the brain’s appetite center – making it think the stomach is full – by raising levels of seratonin, an important neurotransmitter in the brain.
People who have a history of stroke, heart disease, congestive heart failure, or uncontrolled high blood pressure should not use Meridia.In clinical studies involving 6000 obese people, Meridia resulted in an average 5 percent to 10 percent weight loss over 1 year.
Although this drug was not associated with heart-valve abnormalities, it can cause significant elevation in blood pressure in some people.
The drug manufacturer, Knoll Pharmaceutical Co., is urging physicians to carefully monitor the blood pressure of all patients taking Meridia.