Reductil (sibutramine hydrochloride)

Treating obesity. It should be used with a reduced calorie diet.

Reductil is a diet aid. It appears to work by regulating chemicals in the appetite center in the brain to cause a temporary reduction in hunger or craving for food.

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Reductil
• you have an eating disorder (eg, anorexia, bulimia), uncontrolled or severe high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, increased blood pressure in the lungs, or have had a stroke
• you have severe liver or kidney problems or you are on dialysis for severe kidney problems
• you are taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) (eg, fluoxetine), another appetite suppressant, or you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAO) inhibitor (eg, phenelzine) within the last 14 days

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Some medical conditions may interact with Reductil. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have kidney or liver disease, heart disease, increased risk for bleeding, narrow-angle glaucoma, or seizures

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Reductil. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Dihydroergotamine, imidazoles (eg, itraconazole, ketoconazole), lithium, MAO inhibitors (eg, phenelzine), narcotic analgesics (eg, codeine), SSRIs (eg, fluoxetine), sumatriptan, or tryptophan they may increase the risk of Reductil's side effects, including increased risk of restlessness, fever, excessive sweating, twitching, and seizures that can, rarely, be life-threatening
• Cyclosporine because the risk of its side effects may be increased by Reductil

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Reductil may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Use Reductil as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• An extra patient leaflet is available with Reductil. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
• Take Reductil by mouth with or without food.
• Unless otherwise directed by your doctor, Reductil should be taken in the morning to avoid sleeping problems.
• If you miss a dose of Reductil, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Reductil.

• Reductil may cause dizziness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Reductil with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Do not drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are using Reductil; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.
• Changes in dietary habits and increased exercise are important parts of a successful weight loss program. To maintain your ideal weight, these changes should be continued for life. Follow the guidelines given to you by your doctor or diet counselor.
• Lab tests, including blood pressure, pulse monitoring, and weight monitoring, may be performed while you use Reductil. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use an effective method of birth control while you are taking Reductil.
• Reductil should not be used in CHILDREN or ADOLESCENTS; safety and effectiveness in children and adolescents have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Reductil while pregnant. It is not known if Reductil is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Reductil .

When used for long periods of time or at high doses, some people develop a need to continue taking Reductil. This is known as DEPENDENCE or addiction.

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Back pain; constipation; dizziness; dry mouth; flu-like symptoms; headache; increased cough; increased or decreased appetite; indigestion; joint pain; migraine; nasal inflammation; nausea; nervousness; painful menstruation; sinus inflammation; sleeplessness; sore throat; upset stomach; weakness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); agitation; anxiety; change in amount of urine; chest pain; clumsiness; confusion; depression; difficulty breathing; disorientation; excitement; eye pain; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; high fever; increased sweating; large, unchanging pupils; loss of consciousness; one-sided weakness; restlessness; seizures; shivering; shortness of breath; stomach pain; swelling of the feet, ankles, or legs; tremors; unusual bruising or bleeding; vision problems; vomiting; weakness.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

Contact your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately.

Store Reductil at room temperature, at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Reductil out of the reach of children and away from pets.

• If you have any questions about Reductil, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Reductil is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Reductil. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.