Other diet meds | Meridia®

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What is Meridia?

Meridia is the branded version of the generic medication sibutramine. Meridia diet pills can help with appetite control and is used in the treatment of heavily overweight and obese patients. It is designed to be taken in accompaniment to a low calorie diet and a program of regular exercise to aid weight loss.

How does Meridia work?

After eating a meal your body releases the chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine within the brain. The presence of these chemicals in the "appetite control centre" of your brain gives you a feeling of fullness. The quantity of these two chemicals decreases in this area as they get reabsorbed so that they may be reused, and the level to which someone feels full decreases. Meridia works to prevent this re-absorption helping to prolong the feeling of fullness (satiety). As the patient feels full for longer this can help them reduce their food intake.

Once you stop taking Meridia you are likely to regain some of your lost weight if you have not changed your eating behaviour.

What does Meridia look like?

Meridia 5mg
Blue-and-yellow capsule
Imprinted with "MERIDIA" on the cap and "5" on the body
5 mg of sibutramine (active ingredient)

Meridia 10mg
Blue-and-white capsule
Imprinted with "MERIDIA" on the cap and "10" on the body
10 mg of sibutramine (active ingredient)

Meridia 15mg
Yellow-and-white capsule
Imprinted with "MERIDIA" on the cap and "10" on the body
15 mg of sibutramine (active ingredient)

What is Meridia prescribed for?

Meridia is a satiety enhancer, meaning that it helps reduce someone’s feelings of hunger. Meridia diet pills are prescribed as a weight loss aid for people who exceed their recommended healthy weight.

Who should Meridia be prescribed for?

Meridia is intended for use in people who have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 or above, a person with a BMI of this size is regarded as obese.

Meridia may also be prescribed for the heavily overweight (BMI of 27+) who suffer from an associated illness including conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.

Who should not take Meridia?

You should not take Meridia if any of the following apply to you:

• If you have a record of high blood pressure. Substantial increases in blood pressure have been recorded amongst users of Meridia.
• If you are allergic to sibutramine or any other ingredient found in Meridia diet pills.
• If you are currently using MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors)
• If you are taking any other prescription weight loss aids.
• If you suffer from heart problems
• If you suffer from an eating disorder such as bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa.
• If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant.

Meridia should not be taken by those under the age of 16.

Common side effects of Meridia

Anorexia	Anxiety	Constipation
Dizziness	Headache Disorder	Insomnia
Irritability	Nervousness	Rhinitis
Xerostomia
Serious side effects of Merida drug have included:
Dramatic increase in blood pressure	Seizure	Bleeding
Serotonin Syndrome – a rare but potentially fatal illness that can occur when patients take other medications that also effect serotonin levels at the same time as taking Meridia.

Recommended Meridia dosage

The usual dosage is one Meridia 10mg to be taken once daily, this can be taken with or without food. Once a patient’s reaction to Meridia has been observed the dosage may be dropped to Merida 5mg or increased to Meridia 15 mg by the prescribing doctor.

It is not recommended that Meridia be used for a period of longer than 1 year. Whilst taking Meridia a program of increased exercise and a reduced calorie diet should be adopted for successful weight loss.

Meridia over-dosage

The most commonly reported effects of a Meridia overdose include: tachycardia, hypertension, headache and dizziness. If a Meridia overdose is suspected ensure airways are kept clear and contact a doctor immediately.

What should I tell my doctor before taking Meridia?

You should inform your doctor of your medical history and all other medications you are taking, both prescription and over-the-counter medications, before using Meridia.

Meridia has been known to cause substantial increases in blood pressure, it is vital that you inform your doctor if you suffer from high blood pressure and are considering taking Meridia.

Merida Ingredients

• Meridia diet pills - Active ingredient
  sibutramine
• Meridia diet pills - Inactive ingredients
  colloidal silicon dioxide
  lactose
  magnesium stearate
  microcrystalline cellulose
  D&C Yellow No. 10
  gelatin
  silicon dioxide
  sodium lauryl sulfate
  titanium dioxide

Who makes Meridia?

Meridia is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories pharmaceutical and health care company based in Chicago Illinois.

Abbott Laboratories
100 Abbott Park Rd
North Chicago, IL 60064
Tel: (847) 937-6100

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