A brand name for sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate, Reductil is a prescription appetite suppressant that works by affecting appetite control centers in the brain. Reductil raises your metabolism, increases energy and makes you feel full, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Sibutramine is not exceptionally effective, cautions the UMMC, as people taking this drug tend to lose only about 10 lbs. more than those following a low-calorie diet who are not taking an appetite suppressant. Several dangers are associated with Reductil, which you should take into account if considering this medication.
Cardiovascular Concerns
You should not take Reductil if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure or a history of cardiovascular disease. This medication can increase blood pressure, according to PDR Health, which can be dangerous. Reductil also can increase heart rate and cause a forcefully beating heart, known as palpitations.
Kidney and Liver Considerations
Patients with severe kidney or liver disease should not use Reductil, according to Drugs.com. The liver metabolizes this medication, after which the kidney removes the inactive substances from the body. An impaired liver or inefficient kidneys cannot always effectively process certain medications, which can lead to an accumulation of the drug in the body.
Seizures
Some patients developed seizures during clinical trials with sibutramine, as noted by Drugs.com. This was rare, occurring in fewer than one of 1,000 study participants, or less than 0.1 percent. People with a seizure disorder may not be able to safely take Reductil.
Glaucoma
The effects of sibutramine on the brain can lead to excessive dilation of the eye pupils, a condition known as mydriasis, according to Drugs.com. Mydriasis can cause an acute attack of angle-closure glaucoma in people with narrow-angle glaucoma, and even in people who have narrow angles in their eyes but do not have glaucoma. A routine eye exam can detect these conditions before you begin Reductil therapy.
Driving and Other Actions
Reductil may cause dizziness or blurred vision until your body adjusts to the medication. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or medications that cause drowsiness. Drugs.com recommends not driving or performing other potentially unsafe tasks until you know whether your reaction to sibutramine might make these actions hazardous.
Allergic Reaction
As with any medication, some people may experience an allergic reaction to Reductil. Signs as listed by Drugs.com include a rash, hives, itchy skin, trouble breathing, tightness in the chest, unusual hoarseness, or facial or mouth swelling. An allergic reaction to Reductil should be considered a medical emergency, as it could lead to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Drug Interactions
Sibutramine interacts with numerous other medications, so tell your doctor all the medicines and supplements you take to avoid possible risks from combining them with Reductil. The effects of Reductil or the other drug could be increased or decreased, or the combination could cause additional effects, as explained by PDR Health. Combining Reductil with certain antidepressants such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors, for example, could result in serotonin syndrome, a condition that can become life-threatening. Signs of this syndrome include weakness, confusion, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, shaking, fever, vomiting and loss of consciousness. Some other drugs that interact with Reductil include antibiotics, anticoagulants, cough and cold medicines, drugs to treat or prevent migraine headaches, mood-stabilizing drugs, narcotic pain relievers and other weight-loss aids.
