Sibutramine is used for the management of obesity, including weight loss and maintenance of weight loss, and should be used in association with a reduced calorie diet.
Safetychecker Summary
for Sibutramine
(for details about the summarized interactions, read the full article)
 Avoid: Adverse interaction—Avoid these supplements
when taking this medication because taking them together may cause undesirable or dangerous
results. |
5-HTP Alcohol Ephedra L-tryptophan |
| Depletion or interference |
None known |
| Side effect reduction/prevention |
None known |
| Supportive interaction |
None known |
| Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability |
None known |
An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.
Interaction with Dietary Supplements
L-Tryptophan and 5-HTP
The amino acids L-tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) are occasionally used to treat
mental depression. Taking sibutramine with
L-tryptophan or 5-HTP might result in a rare, but serious group of symptoms known as
“serotonin syndrome.”1 Symptoms associated with serotonin syndrome may
include confusion, anxiety, muscle weakness, incoordination, and vomiting. Therefore,
individuals taking sibutramine should avoid supplementing with L-tryptophan and 5-HTP.
Interaction with Herbs
Ephedra (Ephedra
sinica)
One side effect of sibutramine is high blood
pressure. Ephedra, an herb used in cold remedies and herbal weight loss products, contains
ephedrine, which can also increase blood pressure. Though
no studies have investigated whether taking sibutramine together with ephedra might produce an
adverse interaction, currently available evidence suggests that this combination should be
used with caution.2
Interaction with Food and Other Compounds
Alcohol
Though one controlled study showed that drinking alcoholic beverages while taking sibutramine
produced no clinically important interaction, it is nevertheless recommended that individuals
taking the drug should avoid drinking alcohol.3
References:
1. Sifton DW, et. Physicians’ Desk Reference. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc. 2000, 1509–13.
2. Sifton DW, et. Physicians’ Desk Reference. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc. 2000, 1509–13.
3. Sifton DW, et. Physicians’ Desk Reference. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc. 2000, 1509–13.
Copyright © 2002 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. www.healthnotes.com
Please read the disclaimer about the limitations of the information provided here. Do NOT rely solely on the information in this article.
Learn more about Healthnotes, the company.
Learn more about the authors of Safetychecker.
The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over-the-counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2003.