Effect of low-dose metoprolol in combination with sibutramine therapy in normotensive obese patients: a randomized controlled study

• Published in: International Journal of Obesity 2004-03, Vol.28 (3), p.378-383
• Main Authors: Ersoz, H O, Ukinc, K, Baykan, M, Erem, C, Durmus, I, Hacihasanoglu, A, Telatar, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Biochemical analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood pressure; Body mass index; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular disease; Clinical manifestations. Epidemiology. Investigative techniques. Etiology; Coronary vessels; Drug dosages; Epidemiology; General and cellular metabolism. Vitamins; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Heart rate; Hypertension; Insulin resistance; Internal Medicine; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Metabolism; Obesity; Patients; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Public Health; Side effects; Vein & artery diseases; Weight control
• ISSN: 0307-0565; 1476-5497
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802574

OBJECTIVE: Sibutramine is an effective appetite suppresser agent, but treatment is often complicated with side effects, including palpitations and hypertension. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of low-dose cardio-selective beta blocker combination with sibutramine treatment. METHODS: In total, 57 obese subjects were enrolled in the study and separated into two groups in order to receive sibutramine 10 mg/day plus placebo (group P) or sibutramine 10 mg/day plus metoprolol 25 mg/day (group M). Patients were evaluated in the beginning and at the end of the third month with anthropometric measurements, biochemical analysis, peripheral insulin resistance, and ambulatory 24 h blood pressure monitoring. Side effects were evaluated with a visual analog scale. RESULTS: During the study period, the drop-out rate was significantly higher in group P compared with group M (55 and 21%, respectively, P =0.014). Palpitations and headache were prominent symptoms in group P. Diastolic blood pressure (78.6±11.6 and 70.6±4.8 mmHg, respectively, P =0.013) and mean heart rate (84.3±6.1 and 75.8±8.4 beats/min, respectively, P =0.003) were significantly higher in group P compared with group M at the end of the third month. Weight loss was similar between the two groups (100.9±11.5 to 91.8±12.8 kg for group P, P