About the FDA Approved Prescription Weight Loss Drug MERIDIA
Meridia, or sibutramine (sih BYOO tra meen), affects chemicals in the body that are related to weight maintenance. It is used as a short-term supplement to diet and exercise in the treatment of obesity. Studies have shown that using Meridia in conjunction with diet and exercise exhibits a significant increase in fat loss compared to diet and exercise alone.
How Meridia Works
 Meridia Weight Loss |
The active ingredient in Meridia, sibutramine, works in the appetite control area of the brain, the area that signals the sense of fullness (satiety). Meridia does not suppress appetite, which is your signal to start eating.
Meridia blocks the re-uptake of the brain chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine, which help regulate your signal to stop eating by making you feel full. Having a sense of fullness, or satiety, means you may feel satisfied with less food.
Meridia has been extensively studied in more than 100 clinical trials involving more than 12,000 patients. Approximately 14 million patients in more than 75 countries have used sibutramine for the treatment of obesity since it was approved in 1997. Meridia works.
How to Take Meridia
- Take Meridia exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
- Take each dose with a full glass of water.
- Meridia is usually taken once a day. Follow your doctor’s instructions.
- Meridia can be taken with or without food.
- Never take more of this medication than is prescribed for you. Too much Meridia could be dangerous.
- Meridia has been reported to cause increased blood pressure in some patients. It is important to have your blood pressure and pulse monitored regularly while taking Meridia.
- Store Meridia at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Possible Side Effects of Meridia
As with all prescription medications, there is a list of possible side effects. Some are serious, others are less serious, but we still need to be aware of them.
These are the possible side effects of using Meridia:
- an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives)
- an irregular heartbeat
- high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision)
- seizures
- restlessness or tremor
- nervousness or anxiety
- mild headache or dizziness
- insomnia
- dry mouth or an unpleasant taste in your mouth
- constipation
What You Should Discuss With Your Doctor
You might want to be careful using Meridia if you have any of the following conditions:
- anorexia nervosa
- high blood pressure;=
- heart disease, irregular heartbeats, congestive heart failure, or a history of stroke
- epilepsy or another seizure disorder
- gallstones
- glaucoma
- liver disease
- kidney disease
- pregnant or nursing
- younger than 16 years of age
Other Drugs that May Affect Meridia
First and foremost, do not take Meridia if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction may occur.
Secondly, check with your doctor if you are taking any other medications at all. If you are not careful you could end up with anxiety, restlessness, unconsciousness, confusion, weakness, tremor, poor coordination, fever, shivering, sweating, vomiting, and an excessively rapid heartbeat.
Specifically pay attention if you are taking any of the following medications:
- lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, Lithonate, others)
- almotriptan (Axert), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), or zolmitriptan (Zomig)
- citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), or fluvoxamine (Luvox)
- venlafaxine (Effexor), nefazodone (Serzone), mirtazapine (Remeron), or thioridazine (Mellaril)
- amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), or trimipramine (Surmontil)
- dihydroergotamine (D.H.E.)
- dextromethorphan (in many cough medicines)
- meperidine (Demerol)
- fentanyl (Duragesic)
- pentazocine (Talacen, Talwin)
Lose Weight Faster with FDA Approved Prescription Weight Loss Drug MERIDIA…
Meridia affects chemicals in the body that are related to weight maintenance. It is used as a short-term supplement to diet and exercise in the treatment of obesity. See if Meridia is right for you….