Sibutramine Use Associated with Reversible Hepatotoxicity

Athina Chounta; Sotirios Tsiodras; Spyros Zouridakis; Michalis Doumas; Helen Giamarellou

doi:10.7326/0003-4819-143-10-200511150-00030

Letters |15 November 2005

Sibutramine Use Associated with Reversible Hepatotoxicity

Athina Chounta, MD; Sotirios Tsiodras, MD; Spyros Zouridakis, MD; Michalis Doumas, MD; Helen Giamarellou, MD

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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, and 2 drug-related deaths. Until now, no cases of sibutramine hepatotoxicity have been reported (4).

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2005 American College of Physicians

Letters |15 November 2005

Sibutramine Use Associated with Reversible Hepatotoxicity

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Letters |15 November 2005

Sibutramine Use Associated with Reversible Hepatotoxicity

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