Sibutramine Use Associated with Reversible Hepatotoxicity
Authors: Athina Chounta, Sotirios Tsiodras, Spyros Zouridakis, Michalis Doumas, Helen Giamarellou
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2005)

Letters15 November 2005Sibutramine Use Associated with Reversible HepatotoxicityAthina Chounta, MD, Sotirios Tsiodras, MD, Spyros Zouridakis, MD, Michalis Doumas, MD, and Helen Giamarellou, MDAthina Chounta, MDFrom Attikon University Hospital, Xaipari, Greece 12462.Search for more papers by this author, Sotirios Tsiodras, MDFrom Attikon University Hospital, Xaipari, Greece 12462.Search for more papers by this author, Spyros Zouridakis, MDFrom Attikon University Hospital, Xaipari, Greece 12462.Search for more papers by this author, Michalis Doumas, MDFrom Attikon University Hospital, Xaipari, Greece 12462.Search for more papers by this author, and Helen Giamarellou, MDFrom Attikon University Hospital, Xaipari, Greece 12462.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-143-10-200511150-00030 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Background: Obesity continues to be a major health problem in western nations (1) and in developing countries (2). Several prescription medications are used for weight loss, including the relatively new agent sibutramine (introduced in 1997). Sibutramine is a norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor that may also stimulate thermogenesis. The drug is well tolerated, and most of the reported adverse events are mild or moderate in severity. In 2002, the Italian regulatory authority temporarily suspended market authorization, citing 50 adverse reactions (3). These reactions most frequently related to the cardiovascular system, including rapid heart rate, palpitations, hypertension, vasodilatation, ...References1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obesity Epidemic Increases Dramatically in the United States. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2002. Google Scholar2. Friedrich MJ. Epidemic of obesity expands its spread to developing countries. JAMA. 2002;287:1382-6. [PMID: 11903011] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Centre for Pharmaceutical Administration, Health Sciences Authority. Drug alerts: update report on sibutramine. Accessed at www.hsa.gov.sg/docs/safetyalert_sibutramine_Jul02.pdf on 6 June 2005. Google Scholar4. Li Z, Maglione M, Tu W, Mojica W, Arterburn D, Shugarman LR, et al. Meta-analysis: pharmacologic treatment of obesity. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142:532-46. [PMID: 15809465] LinkGoogle Scholar5. Portincasa P, Grattagliano I, Palmieri VO, Palasciano G. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: recent advances from experimental models to clinical management. Clin Biochem. 2005;38:203-17. [PMID: 15708540] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Attikon University Hospital, Xaipari, Greece 12462.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoMeta-Analysis: Pharmacologic Treatment of Obesity Zhaoping Li , Margaret Maglione , Wenli Tu , Walter Mojica , David Arterburn , Lisa R. Shugarman , Lara Hilton , Marika Suttorp , Vanessa Solomon , Paul G. Shekelle , and Sally C. Morton Metrics Cited ByA case of liver injury caused by Kyoukousou and Shin-Kyokubi, Chinese dietary supplements for weight lossInternet slimming, thyrotoxicosis and the liverSerotonin syndrome following sibutramine poisoning in a child, with sequential quantification of sibutramine and its primary and secondary amine metabolites in plasmaPharmacokinetic Changes of Psychotropic Drugs in Patients with Liver DiseaseSibutramine: current status as an anti-obesity drug and its future perspectivesSibutramine-associated adverse effects: a practical guide for its safe useThe Safety Profiles of Orlistat and Sibutramine: Results of Prescription-Event Monitoring Studies in EnglandOrlistat treatment is safe in overweight and obese liver transplant recipients: a prospective, open label trialDrug-induced liver diseaseSafety of Drug Therapies Used for Weight Loss and Treatment of Obesity 15 November 2005Volume 143, Issue 10Page: 763-764KeywordsAntibodiesC-reactive proteinsDrugsLiver function testsMembrane proteinsMuscle proteinsObesityOverweightSerum proteinsWeight loss ePublished: 15 November 2005 Issue Published: 15 November 2005 CopyrightCopyright © 2005 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...