Sibutramine
Definition
Sibutramine is an indirect-acting sympathomimetic that inhibits the reuptake of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and serotonin.
In animal studies, it reduces weight gain in adolescent and obese rats. This effect is attributed to an influence on food intake, whereby administration of sibutramine is thought to increase the feeling of satiety.
History
In Germany, the active ingredient sibutramine was marketed under the brand name Reductil® and was used to treat patients with diet-related obesity. Due to known side effects, the medication was available only by prescription and under medical supervision. Sibutramine has since been withdrawn from the market in all industrialized countries.
Fig. 1 Structural formula of sibutramine
Significance as a Doping Substance
Sibutramine was first listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in 2006 as a prohibited substance under Group S5 (stimulants). Due to its indirect effect as a sympathomimetic, it leads to an increase in norepinephrine concentration in the synaptic cleft. This effect is considered similar to that of the amphetamine class.
Danger from counterfeit weight-loss capsules and teas
Since 2006, slimming capsules and herbal teas (e.g., Lida Meizitang capsules and LiDa Meizi tea) have been sold online that are adulterated with sibutramine—that is, the prescription drug sibutramine is not listed on the packaging. Consumption of these products can lead to unintentional positive doping test results and health problems (e.g., cardiac arrhythmia, high blood pressure, stroke, etc.).
Reference
See Lit: Thevis, M., Sigmund, G., Schiffer, A.K., Schänzer, W.: Determination of N-desmethyl- and N-bisdesmethyl metabolites of Sibutramine in doping control analysis using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Eur. J. Mass Spectrom. 12, (2006) 129–136
References
- Koehler, K., Geyer, H., Guddat, S., Orlovius, A., Parr, M.K., Thevis, M., Schaenzer, W. (2007). Sibutramine found in Chinese herbal slimming capsules and slimming tea. In: Schänzer W, Geyer H, Gotzmann A, Mareck U (eds.) Recent advances in doping analysis (15). Sport und Buch Strauß, Cologne. Accepted for publication
Further information
For more information on sibutramine with relevant links, see also www.wikipedia.de
