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| Reductil |
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Reductil® (Sibutramine), or Meridia as it is known in the US, is a prescription appetite suppressant designed to work in conjunction with exercise and a healthy diet to help people who suffer from obesity lose weight. Manufactured by Abbott Laboratories, formally knoll pharmaceuticals, this treatment has been available in the UK with a prescription since 2001. Weight loss is usually experienced within 3-4 weeks of taking this treatment with clinical studies indicating that patients can expect to lose up to 10% of their body weight within the first year of treatment.
Unlike other oral treatments such as Xenical, Reductil works in the brain to increase the amounts of chemicals noradrenaline and serotonin which enhance the feeling of fulfilment gained from eating allowing you to eat less whilst still feeling full. |
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- Effective in around 77% of patients
- Weight loss begins with the first 3-4 weeks
- Patients can lose up to 10% of their body weight within a year
- Increases chemicals in the brain to reduce appetite
- Release in the UK in 2001
- Available with next day delivery through HealthExpress
Reductil is a prescription weight loss treatment and it is necessary for you to complete an online consultation with us, which will be reviewed by one of our GMC registered doctor prior to you being able to purchase this from us. Once our doctor has reviewed your medical details and provided that you have been found suitable for treatment, you will be able to login to our website and place your order. To begin our consultation process click here.
How does Reductil work?
The active ingredient of Reductil, Sibutramine, works by increasing the amount of chemicals serotonin and noradrenaline free to act on the control centres of the brain known as the known hypothalamus. These two chemicals are neurotransmitters which are responsible for relaying messages between the brain and nerve cells which are associated with moderating mood changes as well as a feeling of well being. When there neurotransmitters the brain starts to feel more satisfied and full which leads to the suppression of appetite. In addition to this action, Reductil has also been shown to prevent the fall in basal metabolic rate (BMR) which often accompanies efforts to lose weight. A reduction in metabolic rate often makes it more difficult to lose weight. |
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How effective is Reductil?
Reductil has gone through a series of clinical trials which have indicated that it is effective in around 77% of people and can result in an annual weight loss of around 5-10%. These trials, of which the findings can be found below, were contacted in 3 stages working to conclusively prove the effectiveness of this treatment.
In the first study - patients treated with Reductil were compared with patients given a placebo. After 12 months, those taking Reductil sustained a net weight loss of 5.2 kg compared with a gain of 0.5 kg with placebo.
In the second study - patients who had already lost at least 2% of body weight or 2 kg after 4 weeks’ treatment with Reductil were split into 2 groups. Group A continued to take Reductil; and Group B were given a placebo for a further 48 weeks. Mean weight loss during the 48-week treatment period with Reductil was 3.8 kg (4%) compared with a gain of 0.2 kg (0.2%) with placebo.
In the third study - patients who achieved more than 5% weight loss with Reductil after 6 months were studied. Patients taking Reductil maintained most of their weight loss after a further 6 months, after which mean weight began to increase; by contrast, those given a placebo immediately began to gain weight. After 18 months, 42% of patients treated with Reductil had maintained at least 80% of weight loss compared with 16% of those with placebo.
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Can I take Reductil with other medications?
Reductil can have a direct effect on several other medications which is why it is important for you to include the names of any treatments that you are currently taking when you complete your online consultation with HealthExpress so that our doctor can accurately asses your suitability for treatment. These other medications include those acting on the brain such as antidepressants and antipshycotic medication, medicated sleeping aids such as tryptophan, medications which increase the levels of serotonin such as certain opioid pain killers, antimigrane medication, and the herbal remedy St John Worts. There are also certain treatments which will increase or decrease the blood levels of Reductil all of which will be noted and discuss with you if you state taking any of these with your consultation.
When should treatment be stopped?
Reductil may increase blood pressure in some people; therefore blood pressure should be monitored regularly during treatment. Reductil is not recommended for those whose blood pressure is greater than 145/90mmHg or if blood pressure rises above 145/90mmHg while treated by Reductil. Reductil is licensed for prescription for a maximum of 1 year in the UK. At this point, it is recommended that you seek further consultation with a doctor before continuing another treatment.
If less than 2kg of body weight has been lost after 1 month's treatment or there has been a loss of less than 5% body weight after 3 months or if there is a regain in weight of at least 3kg after a period of significant weight loss.
Before I take Reductil, what should I check?
Reductil is not suitable for everyone. Most importantly, do not take Reductil if you're pregnant or breast-feeding. If one or more of the points below applies to you, talk to a doctor before starting treatment with Reductil.
- If you are allergic to sibutramine, or to any of the other ingredients.
- If you have high blood pressure (more than 145/90), or a history of heart problems, hardening of the arteries or of strokes.
- If you have liver or kidney problems or if you have problems with your prostate or thyroid, or growths on the adrenal glands (phaeochromocytoma).
- If you are pregnant, might become pregnant or you are breast-feeding.
- If you are over 65, or under 18.
- If you have ever had anorexia or bulimia.
- If you have a psychiatric illness, or have taken other medicines in the last fortnight to treat depression or psychiatric illness.
- If you have taken tryptophan for disturbed sleep, or phentermine or diethylproplon (amfepramone) for weight reduction in the last fortnight.
- If you have the eye disease, narrow angle glaucoma.
- If you have a history of drug or alcohol problems.
- If you have a medical condition that is causing your weight problem
- If you have Tourette syndrome (which causes uncontrolled movements and noises).
If you want to check any of these points with a HealthExpress doctor, complete an online consultation for a free personalised diagnosis. To start your onilne consultation, click below.
Taking Reductil - Other points to watch...
Checking your blood pressure
You should tell your GP that you are taking Reductil so that they can check your progress regularly, measuring your weight, blood pressure and pulse rate. A few people ( fewer than 1 in every 10 ) find their blood pressure rises when they take Reductil. If your blood pressure gets too high, your GP will take you off the medicine.
Reductil and alcohol
It is best not to drink alcohol during your weight loss programme with Reductil. Alcoholic drinks ( such as beer, cider, wine or spirits ) are a very common cause of weight gain. So drinking will make it harder to reach your target.
Driving and operating machinery
Reductil may affect your judgment, thinking or handling skills. If you find this, do not drive or use any tools or machines. |
How is Reductil taken?
Reductil is taken once daily, prior to breakfast, at around the same time each day as this treatment is more effective when taken consistently. In the event that you miss a dose you must not take a double dose the next time to make up for this, simply disregard this missed dose and continue with treatment as directed.
How long should I take Reductil?
Reductil should be taken until you have reached a BMI of 25 or have been using this treatment for 2 years as the safety and effectiveness of Reductil has not been studied beyond this time period.
How much weight should I expect to lose?
Weight loss should start to occur with Reductil within the first 3-4 weeks of its use and should be 4 pounds or greater. Continuing a course of this treatment for a year has been clinically proven to reduce a patients overall weight by around 5-10%.
What are the most common side effects of Reductil?
As with all prescription medication there are several side effects which may occur as a result of your use of this treatment. The more common of these side effects, which are generally mild and do not usually cause patients to stop taking treatment, include headache, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate and increased sweating.
How soon after starting Reductil should I expect to start losing weight?
Although everybody will respond differently to Reductil, typically weight loss will be experienced within the first 3-4 weeks provided that the treatment as been used correct with some form of diet or weight loss programme being followed. This weight loss should be approximately 4 pounds or more within the first month. Most of the weight lost using this treatment will happen within the first 6 months of its use with scientific studies showing that the majority of these people will be able to keep this weight off for at least 2 years after their use of Reductil.
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What is the difference between Reductil and other weight-loss medications?
There are currently two other alternatives available to Reductil, these are Xenical and Acomplia. Like Reductil, Acomplia is an appetite suppressant which works within the brain and central nervous system to decrease appetite allowing them to eat less than the recommended daily calorie intake which results in weight loss. Acomplia is a relatively new treatment and as a result the long term effects of this treatment are not know where as Reductil as been used in the UK since 2001 and has been very conclusively studied. Xenical, which is a fat inhibitor is an entirely different type of treatment then Reductil. This works to stop the breakdown of fat within the digestive system and does not have any effect on appetite.
For more information about the alternative medications available and also their differences please click here for our obesity treatment comparison table.
How can I buy Reductil legally online?
You can buy Reductil from Healthexpress.co.uk subject to your completion of our online consultation process and successful reviewed by one of our registered doctors. The consultation is without obligation and completely free. To begin your consultation and take those initial few steps in getting help for your condition please click on the button below.
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