Controversial Effects of Sibutramine on Autonomic Cardiovascular Regulation

Background: Sibutramine, a serotonin and norepinephrine transporter blocker, is widely used as an adjunctive treatment of obesity. Genetic variability in the norepinephrine transporter gene and selective pharmacological blockade elicit profound changes in cardiovascular regulation, particularly with standing. Whether or not sibutramine elicits a similar response is unknown. Methods: In 11 healthy subjects (7 men, age 27±2 years, BMI 23.1±0.7 kg/m), we compared the effect of 20mg Sibutramine or matching placebo ingested 26h, 14h and 2h before testing. In addition, we tested sibutramine in combination with the bet…