Sibutramine, the active ingredient in Reductil, is a type ofanti-obesity medicine. It works by affecting the neurotransmitters in the brain that hasten the feeling of fullness. Sibutramine aids in weight loss by increasing the amount of noradrenaline and serotonin free to act in the brain.

Reductil Side Effects

Reductil is a conditional drug and may cause side effects that can be major or minor depending on individual threshold. Most side effects occur within the first 4 weeks of treatment. Normally taken in the mornings, Reductil capsules must be swallowed whole with a glass of water. These tablets can be taken with or without food. However safe Reductil needs to be used with caution. Reductil may:

• Reduce your ability to drive or operate machinery safely
• Require weight monitoring for correct management
• Require blood pressure and pulse rate monitoring
• Require a drastic change in lifestyle for it to work effectively

You must consult your doctor if:

• You experience any mood changes, depression, or distressing thoughts or feelings
• You experience shortness of breath, chest pain or ankle swelling

Reductil must be used with caution in:

• Decreased kidney or liver function
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Epilepsy
• Open angle glaucoma
• People with a family history of Glaucoma
• People with a family history of involuntary, recurrent muscle twitches or vocalisations
• History of depression
• People with increased risk of bleeding
• People taking anticoagulants, e.g. warfarin
• People with sleep apnoea syndrome

It is not advisable to use Reductil in:

• People over 65 years of age
• Children and adolescents under the age of 18 years
• Pregnant women
• Lactating mothers
• People:

• • Who are obese because of a medical condition
  • With severely decreased kidney or liver function
  • With uncontrolled high blood pressure
  • Tourette's syndrome
  • Who have taken antidepressant, antipsychotic or appetite suppressant medicines or tryptophan to aid sleep in the last 14 days
  • With rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption (Reductil capsules contain lactose)
  • Who are allergic to one or any of the Reductil ingredients

• People with a history of:

• • Coronary artery disease
  • Heart failure
  • Increased heart rate (tachycardia)
  • Irregular heart beats (arrhythmias)
  • Transient ischaemic attacks
  • Blocked arteries in the extremities (peripheral arterial occlusive disease)
  • Anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa
  • Drug, alcohol or medication dependence or abuse

• Closed angle glaucoma
• Overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
• Tumour of the adrenal gland (Pheochromocytoma)
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Psychiatric illness

Minor Side Effects of Reductil

The possible medicine-related side effects can affect individuals differently. However, because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that you will experience it. This listing is meant to help you make an informed choice. The following are some of the minor side effects that are known to be associated with Reductil. They are:

• Dry mouth
• Insomnia
• Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
• Headache
• Pins and needles (paraesthesia)
• Light-headedness
• Anxiety
• Sweating
• Alteration in taste
• Aggravation of haemorrhoids
• Hot flushes
• Awareness of your heartbeat (palpitations)
• Increased heart rate (tachycardia)
• Raised blood pressure (hypertension)
• Depression
• Menstrual cycle disorders
• Impotence
• Seizures
• Decrease in the number of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia)
• Kidney disorders
• Taste changes
• Appetite loss

Major Side Effects of Reductil

Some people taking Reductil suffer uncommon side effects. These symptoms may occur in up to 1% of patients taking Reductil. Generally, side effects are mild enough for people to continue taking Reductil but in case you get major side effects, do consult our doctor. Major side effects include:

• Depression
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Chest Pain
• Rashes
• Urinary retention
• Male sexual dysfunction
• Female sexual dysfunction
• Kidney problems with raised levels of liver enzymes in tests
• Purple rash on legs or bruising
• Seizures
• Blurred vision
• Breathing problems
• Swollen ankles