Also sold under the brand names Meridia, Reductil and Sibutrex, sibutramine was sold up until 2010 as a drug to help obese people lose weight in combination with diet and exercise.
Sibutramine is a centrally-acting serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor which is structurally similar to amphetamines, although it’s mechanism of action is different. It had a lot of side-effects and interactions with many medications.
It has been withdrawn from the market in most countries following a study that found that sibutramine was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and strokes.
More Information:
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/DrugSafetyInformationforHeathcareProfessionals/ucm191650.htm
Tyczynski JE, Oleske DM, Klingman D, Ferrufino CP, & Lee WC. (2012) Safety assessment of an anti-obesity drug (sibutramine): a retrospective cohort study. Drug safety : an international journal of medical toxicology and drug experience, 35(8), 629-44. PMID: 22788234
