Sibutramine, formerly sold under the brand name Meridia among others, is an appetite suppressant which has been discontinued in many countries. It works as a serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) similar to certain antidepressants. Until 2010, it was widely marketed and prescribed as an adjunct in the treatment of obesity along with diet and exercise. It has been associated with increased cardiovascular diseases and strokes and has been withdrawn from the market in 2010 in several countries and regions including
Australia,[2] Canada,[3]
China,[4] the European Union,[5] Hong Kong,[6] India,[7] Mexico, New Zealand,[8] the Philippines,[9] Thailand,[10] the United Kingdom,[11] and the United States.[12] However, the drug remains available in some countries.[13]
Sibutramine was originally developed in 1988 by Boots in Nottingham, UK,[14] and manufactured and marketed by Abbott Laboratories and sold under a variety of brand names including Reductil, Meridia, Siredia, and Sibutrex before its withdrawal 2010 from most markets. It was classified as a Schedule IVcontrolled substance in the United States.
As of 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) still found sibutramine in over 700 diet supplements marketed as "natural", "traditional", or "herbal remedies".
^Buckett WR, Thomas PC, Luscombe GP (1988). "The pharmacology of sibutramine hydrochloride (BTS 54 524), a new antidepressant which induces rapid noradrenergic down-regulation". Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry. 12 (5): 575–584. doi:10.1016/0278-5846(88)90003-6. PMID2851857. S2CID24787523.