Slimex 15mg (Sibutramine)

What Slimex (sibutramine 15mg) is used for:

Slimex is used to treat very overweight (obese) patients who have not been able to lose weight using a low calorie diet and exercise.

Your ideal weight may not be achieved even with Slimex . For the best results Slimex should be used in combination with a calorie controlled diet and a regular exercise routine. The intent of Slimex is to assist with moderate weight loss over 6 months (5-10%) - 9 months for diabetics - when used with a diet and exercise programme. This is in accordance with modern weight-loss practice, which emphasises that moderate weight loss achieves significant health improvement. Losing even modest amounts of weight (5-10% of your initial weight) and keeping it off has been found to reduce risks for diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Set yourself realistic goals for weight loss and maintenance.

For best results, Slimex should be used together with a low fat diet and moderate exercise supervised by your doctor. If this is followed, you should notice some weight loss by the end of the first month of treatment. If you have not lost at least 2kg in the first four weeks of treatment, speak to your doctor.

Slimex does not work in the same way as traditional appetite suppressants. It works by altering the level of two chemicals in the brain, serotonin and noradrenaline, which help regulate energy intake and output.

The result is (1) you will not need to eat as much during your meals before you feel full, and (2) Slimex stops your metabolic rate from falling as much as it normally would. Metabolic rate normally falls during weight loss as you reduce your intake of food, making it harder to keep losing weight. However, there will still be fluctuations in your weight loss as the body uses many mechanisms to maintain your weight. This could be a reason some people do not achieve any benefit from Slimex .

Slimex is NOT meant to result in "overnight" weight-loss. A healthy rate of weight-loss is ½ to 1kg per week. Even though some people notice an effect on the size of their meals within a few days, it can take longer for others. Weight loss normally starts within 2 weeks and continues for up to 6 months (although in some people eg diabetics, it could take longer). Once your weight plateaus, continue to take Slimex , which will help sustain weight loss.

Continuing to take Slimex will help you maintain this new lower weight and assist to prevent weight being regained.

Slimex is not addictive or habit forming and has been approved for long-term use in weight management.

Slimex is only available with a doctor's prescription.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Slimex has been prescribed for you.

What you need to know about weight management

1. Weight reduction is the initial aim in a weight loss program; weight maintenance should be the long-term aim
2. Please be aware, that if you do increase your level of exercise, your weight reduction may be delayed as the build up of muscle can override fat reduction.
3. The body needs to adjust to reduced energy consumption. Therefore if dietary intake is reduced too much, hunger pangs can result.
4. In women, weight can fluctuate due to water retention during the menstrual cycle.

Before you take Slimex

When you must not take Slimex

Do not take Slimex if:

• you are elderly (over the age 65) or a child (under the age of 18).
  There is not enough experience with the use of Slimex in these groups.
• you have an allergy to Slimex or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include an itchy rash and skin blisters.
• you are or intend to become pregnant or breast-feed. Like most medicines, Slimex is not recommended for use during pregnancy or breast-feeding.
• the expiry date printed on the pack has passed.
• the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering or if the capsules look damaged.

Do not take Slimex if you have one of the following medical conditions:

• You have an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.
• Your overweight or obesity is due to a disease.
• You have a psychiatric or mental illness, eg bipolar disease (manic-depression).
• You have hyperthyroidism (i.e. an overactive thyroid gland).
• You have high blood pressure not controlled by drugs.
• You have severe liver or kidney disease.
• You have heart disease caused by poor blood flow in the blood vessels of the heart (e.g. angina).
• You have disease of the heart with shortness of breath, and swelling of the feet or legs due to fluid build up.
• You have changes in heart rate (fast, slow or irregular).
• You have had a stroke.
• You have a swelling of the prostate gland that makes it difficult to pass urine.
• You have a tumour of the adrenal gland, which sits near the kidney.
• You have narrow angle glaucoma. A condition in which the pressure of fluid in the eye may be high.
• You have a history of drug, medication or alcohol abuse.
• You suffer from Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome.
• You have had seizures (epilepsy or convulsions).

Do not take Slimex if you are taking one of the following medications:

• You are taking any medicine for depression. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure as to whether or not you are taking an antidepressant.
• You are taking another medicine to lose weight. This includes over-the-counter medicines or herbal products.
• You are taking a medicine that affects your alertness (i.e. keeps you awake or makes you sleepy) e.g. tranquillisers, antidepressants or tryptophan.

If you are not sure whether you should start taking Slimex , talk to your doctor.

Before you start to take Slimex

Tell your doctor if

1. You are allergic to foods, dyes, preservatives or any other medicines.
2. You are or intend to become pregnant or breast-feed.
   The use of Slimex is not recommended during pregnancy or breast-feeding.
3. You have any medical conditions, especially the following:
   • high blood pressure
   • kidney or liver disease
   • seizures, fits or convulsions
   • motor or verbal tics
   • gallstones
   • open angle glaucoma
   • have a family history of raised pressure in the eye.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Slimex .

Taking other medicines

Because weight loss has many beneficial effects, it may also affect the dose of medication you take for other conditions such as cholesterol, diabetes and thyroid. Make sure you discuss all the medications that you are taking with your doctor. Losing weight may mean your doctor may make adjustments to these medications.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food store.
Some medicines and Slimex may interfere with each other.

These include:

• ketoconazole, a medicine used to treat fungal infections.
• erythromycin or rifampicin, used to treat infections.
• cyclosporin, a medicine used to prevent organ transplant rejections or to treat certain problems with the immune system.
• carbamazepine, phenobarbitone, and phenytoin, medicines to treat epilepsy.
• dexamethasone, a medicine used to treat inflammation.
• lithium, a medicine used to treat mood swings.
• tryptophan, an amino acid.
• sumatriptan succinate, dihydroergotamine, medicines used to treat migraines.
• medicines used to treat severe pain.
• certain medicines used to relieve symptoms of coughs, colds and allergies (e.g. dextromethorphan).
• other medicines used for weight loss. This includes over-the-counter medicines or herbal products.

These medicines may be affected by Slimex , or may affect how well it works. Your doctor will be able to tell you what to do when taking Slimex with other medicines.

Your doctor and pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Slimex .

How to take Slimex

How much to take

The usual dosage is one capsule taken once each day.

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully. These directions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How to take Slimex

Swallow one capsule whole every day with a glass of water. Start with the capsule marked "Begin with this capsule" on each tray, followed, on the next day, with the capsule marked with that day of the week. Continue to take one capsule daily until all the capsules in the tray have been taken. All capsules are the same. They are marked with the day of the week to help you keep track of whether you have taken your dose each day.

When to take Slimex

Take Slimex at about the same time each day.
It does not matter if you take Slimex before or after food.

If you forget to take Slimex

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.

Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.

If you are not sure what to do, ask your pharmacist.

How long to take Slimex

Continue taking Slimex for as long as your doctor tells you.

Product description

What Slimex looks like

Slimex 15mg - yellow capsule

Each box contains 30 capsules presented as three "trays" each containing 10 capsules.

Ingredients

Active ingredient:

Each capsule contains 15mg of sibutramine hydrochloride.