Sibutramine in overweight/obese hypertensive patients.

Obesity and hypertension are closely associated risk factors for cardiovascular disease. An increase in body mass index is commonly associated with an increase in blood pressure and weight reduction is recommended as the principal intervention in the obese hypertensive patient. Sibutramine therapy, as part of a programme of diet and exercise, can help achieve marked weight reduction and improve metabolic and other cardiovascular risk factors. In hypertensive patients, weight loss induced by sibutramine has also been found to reduce blood pressure. Studies have shown that in the obese, well-controlled hypertensive patient, sibutramine is a safe and well-tolerated therapy offering the many clinical benefits associated with weight reduction in this high-risk population.