Use of sibutramine to treat obesity

Medications are useful adjuncts to diet and exercise and may help patients lose weight and maintain significant weight loss (5%-10% from baseline). Pharmacologic approaches are indicated in those patients who have had prior weight-loss attempts, who have a body mass index greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 or greater than or equal to 27 kg/m2 with comorbidity, and who are motivated and ready to undertake dietary and physical activity changes. This article provides a treatment algorithm to help physicians measure meaningful weight loss and proposes conservative blood pressure limits to guide the long-term prescription of sibutramine. Sibutramine can be a useful tool in the obesity treatment toolbox if used by knowledgeable practitioners.