Any drug that increases Serotonin or Dopamine or NE will cause weight loss, of course with variable effectiveness
Sibutramine, is specifically effective in this regard.
As for the side effects, you can check any online resource for never-ending list of side effects but for the purpose of USMLE remember this;
Any serotonin agonist (including re-uptake inhibitors used in depression) has the danger of inducing serotonin syndrome with sweating, rigidity, diarrhea, flushing, hyperthermia, seizures and myoclonus, ANS instability, hypertension, etc.
The other big caution is never give them with MAO inhibitors as you likely end up killing the patient with hypertensive crisis (Sibutramine is also NE uptake inhibitor).
MAO inhibitors are banned from the US market for the treatment of hypertension but then think of foods with MAO inhibition avtivity such as wine and cheese.
Also over the counter medication such as dextromethorphan may cause significant interaction and hypertensive crisis.
Sibutramine, is specifically effective in this regard.
As for the side effects, you can check any online resource for never-ending list of side effects but for the purpose of USMLE remember this;
Any serotonin agonist (including re-uptake inhibitors used in depression) has the danger of inducing serotonin syndrome with sweating, rigidity, diarrhea, flushing, hyperthermia, seizures and myoclonus, ANS instability, hypertension, etc.
The other big caution is never give them with MAO inhibitors as you likely end up killing the patient with hypertensive crisis (Sibutramine is also NE uptake inhibitor).
MAO inhibitors are banned from the US market for the treatment of hypertension but then think of foods with MAO inhibition avtivity such as wine and cheese.
Also over the counter medication such as dextromethorphan may cause significant interaction and hypertensive crisis.
