Well, some scientists got a little muddled about why it's important to lose weight in the first place. And they developed this medication, sibutramine (Meridia), that is supposed to be a weight loss aid.
The only problem is, sibutramine doesn't help reduce blood pressure. In fact, in enough people so that it routinely shows up in the research literature, sibutramine has been observed to raise blood pressure. I've got twelve references about this in my drug book (listed below for your reference). In addition to raising blood pressure, elevated heart rate, insomnia, and agitation were also reported side effects.
MY blood pressure started to rise as I reviewed these references. Because I couldn't help but wonder if sibutramine would even be allowed on the market if it were a drug for cancer, or ulcers, or arthritis, and it caused hypertension, arrhythmia, and/or agitation? You can bet not.
But there is such a race to see who can create the magic weight loss pill that scientists seem to have forgotten why we even want people to lose weight. I can just see these Dr./patient interactions behind closed doors everywhere..."Well, Mr. Smith, the bad news is you can't sleep, your heart's racing, you're on the verge of a stroke, and you've annoyed the hell out of your family, friends, and coworkers with your new Type A personality. But hey, guess what? (Drum roll..........) You're THIN!!!"
HUH?!?!?
Your blood pressure isn't high because you have a Meridia deficiency. It's high because you have an activity and good food deficiency.
Is it just me, or is this a little bit like a scientific "Who's On First?"
Lechin F, van der Dijs B, Hernandez G, Orozco B, Rodriguez S, Baez S. Neurochemical, neuroautonomic and neuropharmacological acute effects of sibutramine in healthy subjects. Neurotoxicology 2006 Mar;27(2):184-91.
Avenell A, Brown TJ, McGee MA, Campbell MK, Grant AM, Broom J, Jung RT, Smith WC. What interventions should we add to weight reducing diets in adults with obesity? A systematic review of randomized controlled trials of adding drug therapy, exercise, behaviour therapy or combinations of these interventions. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2004 Aug;17(4):293-316.
Rucker D, Padwal R, Li SK, Curioni C, Lau DC. Long term pharmacotherapy for obesity and overweight: updated meta-analysis. BMJ 2007 Dec 8;335(7631):1194-9.
Di Francesco V, Sacco T, Zamboni M, Bissoli L, Zoico E, Mazzali G, Minniti A, Salanitri T, Cancelli F, Bosello O. Weight loss and quality of life improvement in obese subjects treated with sibutramine: a double-blind randomized multicenter study. Ann Nutr Metab 2007;51(1):75-81.
Hanotin C, Thomas F, Jones SP, Leutenegger E, Drouin P. Efficacy and tolerability of sibutramine in obese patients: a dose-ranging study. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1998 Jan;22(1): 32-8.
Dunican KC, Desilets AR, Montalbano JK. Pharmacotherapeutic options for overweight adolescents. Ann Pharmacother 2007 Sep;41(9):1445-55.
Elliott WJ. Drug interactions and drugs that affect blood pressure. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2006 Oct;8(10):731-7.
Porter JA, Raebel MA, Conner DA, Lanty FA, Vogel EA, Gay EC, Merenich JA. The Long-term Outcomes of Sibutramine Effectiveness on Weight (LOSE Weight) study: evaluating the role of drug therapy within a weight management program in a group-model health maintenance organization. Am J Manag Care. 2004 Jun;10(6):369-76.
Faria AN, Ribeiro Filho FF, Kohlmann NE, Gouvea Ferreira SR, Zanella MT. Effects of sibutramine on abdominal fat mass, insulin resistance and blood pressure in obese hypertensive patients. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2005 May;7(3):246-53.
Perrio MJ, Wilton LC, Shakir SA. The safety profiles of orlistat and sibutramine: results of prescription-event monitoring studies in England. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007 Nov;15(11):2712-22.
Berube Parent S, Prud’homme D, St. Pierre S, Doucet E, Tremblay A. Obesity treatment with a progressive clinical tri-therapy combining sibutramine and a supervised diet-exercise intervention. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2001 Aug;25(8): 1144-53.
McMahon FG, Fujioka K, Singh BN, Mendel CM, Rowe E, Rolston K, Johnson F, Mooradian AD. Efficacy and safety of sibutramine in obese white and African American patients with hypertension: a 1-year double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. Arch Intern Med 2000 Jul 24;160(14): 2185-91.
Weintraub M, Rubio A, Golik A, Byrne L, Scheinbaum ML. Sibutramine in weight control: a dose-ranging, efficacy study. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1991 Sep;50(3): 330-7.
Van Gaal LF, Wauters MA, Peiffer FW, De Leeuw IH. Sibutramine and fat distribution: is there a role for pharmacotherapy in abdominal/visceral fat reduction? Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1998 Aug; 22 Suppl 1:S38-40; discussion S41-2.
Hanotin C, Thomas F, Jones SP, Leutenegger E, Drouin P. A comparison of sibutramine and dexfenfluramine in the treatment of obesity. Obes Res 1998 Jul;6(4): 285-91.
Fanghanel G, Cortinas L, Sanchez-Reyes L, Berber A. A clinical trial of the use of sibutramine for the treatment of patients suffering essential obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2000 Feb; 24(2): 144-50.
Bailey DG, Dresser GK. Interactions between grapefruit juice and cardiovascular drugs. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs. 2004;4(5):281-97
Xu J, Chen JD. Peripheral mechanisms of sibutramine involving proximal gastric motility in dogs. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2006 Aug;14(8):1363-70.
Connoley IP, Liu YL, Frost I, Reckless IP, Heal DJ, Stock MJ. Thermogenic effects of sibutramine and its metabolites. Br J Pharmacol 1999 Mar,126(6): 1487-95.
Derosa G, Cicero AF, Murdolo G, Ciccarelli L, Fogari R. Comparison of metabolic effects of orlistat and sibutramine treatment in Type 2 diabetic obese patients. Diabetes Nutr Metab. 2004 Aug;17(4):222-9.
Gokcel A, Karakose H, Ertorer EM, Tanaci N, Tutuncu NB, Guvener N. Effects of sibutramine in obese female subjects with type 2 diabetes and poor blood glucose control. Diabetes Care 2001 Nov; 24(11): 1957-60.
Hauner H, Meier M, Wendland G, Kurscheid T, Lauterbach K, Study Group SA; SAT Study. Weight reduction by sibutramine in obese subjects in primary care medicine: the SAT Study. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2004 Apr;112(4):201-7.
McNeely W, Goa KL. Sibutramine. A review of its contribution to the management of obesity. Drugs 1998 Dec;56(6): 1093-24.
Fanghanel G, Cortinas L, Sanchez Reyes L, Berber A. Second phase of a double blind study clinical trial on sibutramine for the treatment of patients suffering essential obesity: 6 months after treatment cross-over. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2001 May;25(5): 741-7.
Norris SL, Zhang X, Avenell A, Gregg E, Schmid CH, Lau J. Pharmacotherapy for weight loss in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005 Jan 25;(1):CD004096.
Padwal R, Li SK, Lau DC. Long-term pharmacotherapy for obesity and overweight. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(3):CD004094.
Fanghanel G, Cortinas L, Sanchez Reyes L, Berber A. Second phase of a double blind study clinical trial on sibutramine for the treatment of patients suffering essential obesity: 6 months after treatment cross-over. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2001 May;25(5): 741-7.
Stimac D, Ruzic A, Majanovic SK. Croatian experience with sibutramine in the treatment of obesity--multicenter prospective study. Coll Antropol. 2004 Jun;28(1):215-21.
Appolinario JC, Godoy Matos A, Fontenelle LF, Carraro L, Cabral M, Vieira A, Coutinho W. An open-label trial of sibutramine in obese patients with binge-eating disorder. J Clin Psychiatry 2002 Jan;63(1): 28-30.
Horvath K, Jeitler K, Siering U, Stich AK, Skipka G, Gratzer TW, Siebenhofer A. Long-term effects of weight-reducing interventions in hypertensive patients: systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med. 2008 Mar 24;168(6):571-80.
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