• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What should I avoid while taking sibutramine?

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Sibutramine may cause dizziness, difficulty concentrating, or restlessness. If you experience these effects, avoid hazardous activities. Do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines without first talking to your doctor, especially weight-loss products, tryptophan (L-tryptophan, 5-HTP), decongestants, antidepressants, cough suppressants, lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, Lithonate, others), and migraine medicines.

What are the possible side effects of sibutramine?

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking sibutramine and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

• easy bleeding, bruising under the skin , bloody gums, or blood in your urine or stool;

• new or worsening shortness of breath;

• an irregular heartbeat;

• high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision); or

• seizures.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take sibutramine and talk to your doctor if you experience

• restlessness or tremor,

• nervousness or anxiety,

• mild headache or dizziness,

• insomnia,

• dry mouth or an unpleasant taste in your mouth, or

• constipation.

Sibutramine may interact with other medicines and cause a condition called Serotonin Syndrome. This syndrome requires immediate medical attention and may include one or more of the following symptoms: anxiety, restlessness, loss of consciousness, confusion, weakness, tremor, poor coordination, fever, shivering, sweating, vomiting, a fast heartbeat, and others. Do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines without first talking to your doctor, especially weight-loss products, tryptophan (L-tryptophan, 5-HTP), decongestants, antidepressants, cough suppressants, lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, Lithonate, others), or migraine medicines.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect sibutramine?

Do not take sibutramine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction may occur.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking

• lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, Lithonate, others);

• almotriptan (Axert), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), or zolmitriptan (Zomig);

• venlafaxine (Effexor), duloxetine (Cymbalta), nefazodone (Serzone), mirtazapine (Remeron), or thioridazine (Mellaril);

• citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), or fluvoxamine (Luvox);

• amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), or trimipramine (Surmontil);

• dihydroergotamine (D.H.E.);

• an oral anticoagulant or drugs that may increase bleeding such as warfarin (Coumadin), ticlopidine (Ticlid), clopidogrel (Plavix), pentoxifylline (Trental) , aspirin, and others;

• dextromethorphan (in many cough medicines);

• meperidine (Demerol);

• fentanyl (Duragesic); or

• pentazocine (Talacen, Talwin).

Sibutramine may interact with the medicines listed above and cause a condition called Serotonin Syndrome. This syndrome requires immediate medical attention and may include one or more of the following symptoms: anxiety, restlessness, loss of consciousness, confusion, weakness, tremor, poor coordination, fever, shivering, sweating, vomiting, a fast heartbeat, and others. Do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines without first talking to your doctor, especially weight-loss products, tryptophan (L-tryptophan, 5-HTP), decongestants, antidepressants, cough suppressants, lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, Lithonate, others), or migraine medicines.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with sibutramine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.