Meridia (Sibutramine Hydrochloride) - Summary

MERIDIA SUMMARY

MERIDIA® (sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate) is an orally administered agent for the treatment of obesity.

MERIDIA is indicated for the management of obesity, including weight loss and maintenance of weight loss, and should be used in conjunction with a reduced calorie diet. MERIDIA is recommended for obese patients with an initial body mass index >/=30 kg/m², or >/=27 kg/m² in the presence of other risk factors (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia).

See all indications & dosage >>

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Published Studies Related to Meridia (Sibutramine)

Early Response to Sibutramine in Patients Not Meeting Current Label Criteria: Preliminary Analysis of SCOUT Lead-in Period. [2009.10.08]
The Sibutramine Cardiovascular Outcomes (SCOUT) trial protocol defines a patient population predominantly outside current European Union label criteria. This article explores responses to sibutramine during the 6-week, single-blind, lead-in period between patients who conformed to the label requirements ("conformers") and those who did not ("nonconformers")...

Weight and blood pressure response to weight management and sibutramine in diabetic and non-diabetic high-risk patients: an analysis from the 6-week lead-in period of the sibutramine cardiovascular outcomes (SCOUT) trial. [2009.09.16]
Objective: To assess treatment responses to sibutramine and weight management in diabetic patients during the lead-in period of the Sibutramine Cardiovascular OUTcomes (SCOUT) trial. Methods: SCOUT is an ongoing, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled outcome trial in cardiovascular high-risk overweight/obese patients...

Acute effect of weight loss on levels of total bilirubin in obese, cardiovascular high-risk patients: an analysis from the lead-in period of the Sibutramine Cardiovascular Outcome trial. [2009.08]
Low levels of bilirubin are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular adverse events. Weight reduction is known to reduce several cardiovascular risk factors, but effects on bilirubin levels have not been reported... The effect is greater in men than in women.

Blood pressure changes associated with sibutramine and weight management - an analysis from the 6-week lead-in period of the sibutramine cardiovascular outcomes trial (SCOUT). [2009.03]
OBJECTIVE: To explore vital sign changes among patient subgroups during the 6-week lead-in period of the sibutramine cardiovascular outcomes (SCOUT) trial... CONCLUSIONS: In hypertensive patients (>or=140/>or=90), blood pressure decreases were observed during 6-week treatment with sibutramine even when body weight was unchanged. In patients with normal blood pressure (<130/<85), weight loss of >5% induced decreases in systolic blood pressure; otherwise, small increases were observed. Small pulse rate increases were observed regardless of blood pressure or weight change status.

Pioglitazone metabolic effect in metformin-intolerant obese patients treated with sibutramine. [2009]
OBJECTIVE: Metformin is the drug of choice to treat obese type 2 diabetes patients because it reduces either insulin-resistance and body weight. We aimed to comparatively test the efficacy and tolerability of pioglitazone and sibutramine in metformin-intolerant obese type 2 diabetic patients treated with sibutramine... CONCLUSION: Pioglitazone and sibutramine combination appears to be a short-term equally efficacious and well-tolerated therapeutic alternative respect to metformin-intolerant obese type 2 diabetic patients treated with sibutramine.

more studies >>

Clinical Trials Related to Meridia (Sibutramine)

Weight Loss in Response to Sibutramine (MERIDIA) is Influenced by the Inherited Genes [Completed]
Control of food intake, size and frequency of meals are critical to the development of obesity. The stomach signals feelings of fullness after a meal and therefore plays a role in control of calorie intake. It is unclear whether the approved appetite reducing drug sibutramine changes the function of the stomach. Differences in the way individuals respond to treatment with the appetite suppressant sibutramine may also explain why some people lose weight while others do not.

In a previous study of 48 overweight or obese participants, we preliminarily observed that variation in the gene for the promoter of the serotonin transporter protein was significantly associated with degree of weight loss.

This new single center clinical study aims to evaluate the effects of the FDA-approved appetite suppressing medication, sibutramine (MERIDIA)on weight loss and stomach emptying in patients who are overweight or obese. The effect of individual differences in inherited genes that modify serrotonin and noradrenergic receptors on weight reduction with sibutramine will be tested.

Blood Pressure and Weight Trajectory on a Dual Antihypertensive Combination Plus Sibutramine Versus Placebo in Obese Hypertensives [Completed]
To study the effect of sibutramine treatment on weight reduction and blood pressure improvement in three groups with antihypertensive therapy whose blood pressure was not adequately controlled with antihypertensive combination treatment.

Study to Examine the Longer-Term Efficacy and Safety of Sibutramine Hydrochloride in Obese Subjects [Terminated]
The study was designed to evaluate the long term efficacy and safety of Meridia 15 mg daily in obese subjects.

Efficacy and Safety Study of Sibutramine in Overweight Non-Diabetic Malaysian Population [Completed]
The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of sibutramine vs. placebo in combination with a hypocaloric diet on weight-loss in overweight and obese Malaysian subjects.

A Study to Examine the Efficacy and Safety of Meridia® (Sibutramine Hydrochloride) in Binge-Eating Disorder [Completed]
The purpose of this study is to examine the safety and efficacy of sibutramine in preventing binge eating episodes. Additionally the study aim is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of sibutramine in reducing body weight in subjects with binge-eating disorder.

more trials >>

PATIENT REVIEWS / RATINGS / COMMENTS

Meridia review by care giver of 21 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Considerably Effective
Side effects:		No Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		obesity
Dosage & duration:		10mg taken once a day for the period of 4 months
Other conditions:		none
Other drugs taken:		none
		Reported Results
Benefits:		She has taken so may pills before to lose weight but only meridia has given her a significant decrease in her weight. Her weight was 140lbs and went down to 125 in as little as 3 months.
Side effects:		N/A
Comments:		Meridia was taken once a day before meal....She lost a significant weight. She also engage herself to some exercises as part of her weight lose program

Meridia review by 33 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Highly Effective
Side effects:		Mild Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		OBESITY
Dosage & duration:		15MG taken once a day for the period of 2 MONTHS
Other conditions:		OVERWEIGHT
Other drugs taken:		NONE
		Reported Results
Benefits:		WEIGHT LOSS 2 STONE
Side effects:		IN THE BEGINNING WEEK OR SO I DID NOTICE THAT I WAS STAREING ALOT AND I DIDNT GET OVEREXCITED ABOUT ANYTHING, AND MY SLEEP PATTERNS WERE BETTER,AS I HAVE ALWAYS HAD TROUBLE SLEEPING, I WAS VERY CALM. THEN IN TO THE NEXT WEEK, EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL AND I FELT NO SIDE EFFECTS.
Comments:		I TOOK REDUCTIL TO LOOSE WEIGH AS IT IS AN APPITITTE SUPPRESANT, I T WORKED AND I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS. IT HELPED START A HEALTHIER ME. OH YES YOU MUST REMEMBER TO DRINK PLENTY OF WATER AT LEAST 3/4 PINTS A DAY.

Meridia review by 57 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Marginally Effective
Side effects:		Mild Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		weight loss
Dosage & duration:		10 mg a day taken daily for the period of 2 mos
Other conditions:		heartburn
Other drugs taken:		prilosec
		Reported Results
Benefits:		Definitely lifted mood. Helped me feel full and able to turn down unhealthy snacks. Helped me eat reasonable portions.
Side effects:		Occasional headache. Mild occasional insomnia
Comments:		Taken once a day it acts as a mood lifter and helps you feel full with less food. It helped me take off a few pounds. However, it is only a tool and patient has to be diligent about monitoring hunger and deciding to limit portions. It's easy to "eat around" the drug and overeat. For short term weight loss or to help lose 10 -15 lbs it is great. VERY expensive...$125 for one months supply.