Uses
MERIDIA is a prescription medicine used to help overweight or obese people lose weight and keep the weight off. MERIDIA should be used together with a low-calorie diet. MERIDIA contains sibutramine, a substance that people can become addicted to. Keep your MERIDIA in a safe place to protect it from theft. Never give your it to anyone else, because it may cause death or harm them. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law. The use for more than 2 years has not been studied. It is not known if MERIDIA is safe and effective in children younger than 16 years old.
Side Effects Of Meridia
MERIDIA may cause serious side effects, including:
- serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome may happen when people take MERIDIA with certain other medicines that affect a brain chemical called serotonin. Do not take other medicines with it unless your doctor has told you to. Get medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms:
- seizures (convulsions, fits)
- bleeding. Bleeding may happen if you have a condition that causes bleeding or if you take blood-thinning medicine.
Certain weight loss medicines have a rare but life-threatening problem that affects blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension) . It is not known if MERIDIA may cause this problem because pulmonary hypertension is so rare. Call your doctor right away if you have new or worsening shortness of breath.
The most common side effects of MERIDIA include:
- dry mouth
- loss of appetite
- trouble sleeping
- constipation
- headache
Tell your doctor if you get a rash or hives while taking it. You may be having an allergic reaction.
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the side effects. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Warnings & Precautions
Do not take MERIDIA if you:
- have or have had, heart problems, including:
- heart attack
- chest pain
- heart failure
- fast or irregular heartbeat
- hardening of your arteries or other blood vessels
- poor circulation in your legs
- have or have ever had, a stroke or symptoms of a stroke
- uncontrolled high blood pressure (above 145/90)
- are over age 65
- are taking or have taken a type of medicine used to treat depression called a monoamine
- oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the past 2 weeks. Do not take MAOIs for at least 2 weeks before using. Do not take MAOIs for at least 2 weeks after stopping MERIDIA. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if any of your medicines are MAOIs.
- have an eating problem called anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.
- are taking certain other weight loss medicines.
- are allergic to sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate or any other ingredients in MERIDIA.
Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you have any of these conditions.
Dosage Of Meridia
Take MERIDIA exactly as your doctor tells you to.
- Take MERIDIA 1 time a day.
- If you miss a dose, just skip it. Do not take an extra dose to make up for missed doses.
- If you take too much MERIDIA, call your doctor or Poison Control Center right away, or go to the emergency room.
- Your doctor may change your dose if needed.
- Take MERIDIA with or without food.
- You should see your doctor regularly for check-ups.
Other
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use MERIDIA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give MERIDIA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them and it is against the law. This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information. If you would like more information, talk with your doctor. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about MERIDIA that is written for health professionals.
Source
All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.
