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treadmillwoman
May 9th, 2002, 05:21 AM
I am currently a Meridia user who is thinking at some point of switching to Phentermine. On Meridia I have lost 7 pounds in 2 weeks.

I am dismayed at the misconceptions I have read here about Meridia and the recent news stories. Meridia is NOT dangerous.

I have done lots of research on this topic after the pharmacist told me she heard something. Here's the skinny *g*... Ralph Nader's organization put in a petition to have the drug withdrawn because 29 people in the US in 4 years (out of millions taking the drug) died while taking Meridia. Now, half of them were already heart patients put on meridia as a last chance by their heart doctors. The other half have unrelated deaths (not like phenfen where everyone had heart valve defects). So I am not bothered by this statistic considering 300,000 obese Americans die each year from obesity (can you tell I've been reading LOL). Nader's organization also complained most people taking Meridia only lost 10% of their body weight and they called that something like "unsuccessful". HELLO???? Although I have much more to lose than 10%, I think 10% would be wonderful! nader also said Italian authorities *banned* the drug, where actually they suspended it until Abbot labs clarified a statement on the drug information sheet. As soon as the information gets approved, it is going back on the market.

The media sure would love another Phenfen disaster because it makes great news stories! The truth is there is no evidence whatsoever that Meridia is dangerous, and it has been approved in Europe for many years now.

I hate to sound so callous in taking about deaths because any death is horrible, but to me if only 29 MORBIDLY obese people died in 4 years out of millions taking Meridia then that tells me Meridia is a wonderful drug because I would have expected many more MORBIDLY obese people to have died in that time frame.

One thing I have noticed about an apparent difference in Meridia vs. Phentermine. People taking Phen have told me they effects are immediate-- after a few hours, you know you have taken something. Meridia is more slow-- it needs to develop in your system and it doesnt' have the jolt that Phen has. I get discouraged sometimes because I think Meridia isnt' working. As soon as I think that, the scale shows a loss. I don't think 7 pounds in 2 weeks is anything to complain about :)

My plan is to stay on Meridia until it stops working then switch to Phen. I have about 100 pounds to lose, so this may take a while.

Good luc to all,

Jennifer :)

DMB
May 9th, 2002, 10:53 AM
Jennifer,
I started Meridia on January 17 on April 12 i started phen because i was at a plateau. which is normal for being on it for 3 months. I lost 16lbs in the 3 months. Now 3 years ago i did meridia and lost 53lbs and gained 15 back over the last three years that is why i started back and that i never reached my first goal i wanted to be at it was a money issue since i was getting married and buying a home. so in January i weighed 169 and yesterday i weighed 147 and a total of 20.5 inches lots of inches cause i have been working my **** off and its all turning into muscle. I walk 3-5 miles daily and exercise. I love meridia and my dr gave me phen for 2 months 15mg and yesterday gave me 30mg for 2months and wants me to lose 16lbs in the next two months when i come back. As they say if its not broke dont fix it, so stay until it stops working. I like meridia it lets you eat and you just feel full faster. Phen controlls appetite and does not make you hungry. To me anyting will kill ya. I was even on the PHen Phen when it was famous about 10 years ago.
Good Luck
sw-169
cw-147
gw-125

DiamondGirl
June 3rd, 2002, 04:31 PM
Did anyone know that Meridia is an antidepressant that helps w compulsive eating? My doctor prescribed phen , zoloff and wellbutrin and said that after I lose some weight she'll switch me from phen to meridia because meridia can be used long term whereas phen is for short term use. She said phen and meridia work totally different. What's the difference? Anyone know?