Sibutramine--a review of clinical efficacy

Controlled studies have shown that sibutramine produces dose-related weight loss when given in the range 5-30 mg per day, with optimal doses of 10 and 15 mg per day. Weight loss with sibutramine is 3-5 kg better than placebo at 24 weeks, and weight loss is maintained to 52 weeks at doses of 10 and 15 mg. By six months, 69% of patients treated with sibutramine 15 mg achieve a 5% or greater reduction in their baseline weight. The weight loss achieved with sibutramine was similar to that achieved with dexfenfluramine over 12 weeks (4.5 kg compared with 3.2 kg). Sibutramine-induced weight loss has been found to be accompanied by a significant reduction in waist/hip ratio, and decreases in plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. There were also increases in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. In patients with type II diabetes, sibutramine-induced weight loss was accompanied by a shift towards improved glycaemic control. In controlled studies, 84% of sibutramine-treated patients reported adverse events, compared with 71% of patients receiving placebo. The most frequently reported adverse events are related to pharmacological actions of sibutramine, and include dry mouth, decreased appetite, constipation and insomnia.