Brazil Approves Obesity Drug Sibutramine

Brazil approved the use of an anti-obesity drug - sibutramine, which has been banned in the United States and Europe, say health officials.

The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) said it would halt sales of weight-loss medications which are based on amphetamines, but allow sibutramine under heightened surveillance.

Obesity - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Complications, Treatment
Obesity is a condition where there is excess accumulation of body fat which poses a risk to the health of the individual. It can affect children and adults.

The drug will be allowed to be prescribed to patients seeking to lose weight but only if they do not have cardiovascular problems, Anvisa director Dirceu Barbano told the state news agency Agencia Brasil.

But one Anvisa board member, former health minister Agenor Alvares, dissented.

"If a number of countries took this off the market based on scientific evidence, we cannot ignore that evidence," Alvares said.

Sibutramine
Sibutramine has been banned in several countries including the United States, European countries and India due to its cardiovascular side effects like heart attack and stroke.

Sibutramine is prescribed for the treatment of obesity along with diet restrictions and exercise in patients who suffer from obesity-related conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.

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Sibutramine works by interfering with the chemicals in the brain called as neurotransmitters (norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine). It thereby promotes the feeling of satiety (fullness) and a decrease in the appetite, finally resulting in a low intake of food.

According to Agencia Brasil, regulators in February proposed the withdrawal of sibutramine, following the lead of Europe and the United States.

The drug, sold in the United States under the name Meridia, was withdrawn in October 2010 after the European Medicines Agency suspended authorization for all anti-obesity medicines containing sibutramine in January that year amid concerns over the cardiovascular risks.

Barbano said however the evidence showed it is possible to use the medication to lose weight and that health risks can be minimized.

Source-AFP

How to Lose Weight?
Slide show which explains obesity causes and tips on how to lose weight. Exercising before breakfast is most effective for weight loss.