Patient information:
Reductil is a drug that aids weight loss. Reductil works by targeting the desire for food. Principally it is for the clinically obese, those who are overweight and those whose weight causes medical complications. If you are unsure as to whether this means you, you should check your body mass index. Overweight is a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 30. Reductil is NOT for use as a general slimming aid.

Direction :
The recommended starting dose of Reductil is one 10mg capsule administered once daily with or without food. If there is inadequate weight loss (ie less than 2kg) after 4 weeks, the dose may be increased to one 15mg capsule once daily provided 10mg was well tolerated. Blood pressure and heart rate changes should be taken into account when deciding to increase the dose. Doses above 15mg daily are not recommended. In most of the clinical trials, Reductil was given in the morning.

Side Effects:
There are links between weight loss drugs and cardiac valve dysfunction. In tests around 3% of those tested were found to have heart valve disease. If you have any concerns surrounding this consult your doctor. Other side effects were: insomnia, constipation, dry mouth, headaches, increased blood pressure and an increase in heart rate. These symptoms are usually not severe and do not necessarily prevent the use of Reductil. Should you notice any unfamiliar symptoms consult your doctor. These symptoms can be any of the above or the following : Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain, angina, heart rate over 100 beats a minute or irregular heart beat, muscle rigidity, fevers, painful eyes, stomach pains, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, light-headedness, feeling disorientated, feeling depressed, feeling mentally confused.

Precautions:
Tell your doctor your medical history, including: allergies, digestive disorders (malabsorption or cholestasis), low thyroid function (hypothyroidism), other metabolism problems (e.g., oxalate kidney stones, hyperoxaluria), gall bladder problems, gall stones, pregnant or breast feeding. It should not be taken by the following people:· Pregnant women or nursing mothers, Individuals who suffer from blood pressure complications,Parkinson's or any other disorder, have had a heart attack, congestive heart failure or coronary artery disease, irregular heart beats (arrhythmias), liver or kidney conditions, stroke or at risk of a stroke, anorexia nervosa, seizures, depression and eye disorders.

Drug interactions:
Inform your Doctor or Pharmacist of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking, especially if you are taking Antibiotics (rifampicin, erythromycin and clorithromycin), Epilepsy medicine (carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenonbarbitone and phenytoin), Antifungal medicines (ketaconazole or itraconazole), Migraine medicine (sumatriptan, dihydroergotamine), Cough cold allergy and decongestant medicine (there are various medicines amongst these that can raise blood pressure), Opoid pain killers (fentanyl, pentazocine, pethidine, dextromethorphan), Steroids, Drugs that target the immune system (cyclosporin, dexamethsone) and Antidepressants.