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.
Summary of
Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
In some cases, an herb or supplement may appear in more than one category, which may seem
contradictory. For clarification, read the full article for details about the summarized
interactions.
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
One side effect of sibutramine is high blood
pressure. Ephedra, an herb that until 2004 was 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 (To view, roll mouse over the "References" heading; to hide, click on the heading)
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.
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 June 2009.
