Weight Loss Drugs: Meridia
What is MERIDIA?
MERIDIA is prescription medication that’s used along with a reduced-calorie
diet to help promote and maintain weight loss. It works on the appetite control
center of the brain.
How does MERIDIA work?
MERIDIA works by boosting levels of certain chemical messengers in the nervous
system, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. MERIDIA should be
used as part of a comprehensive weight loss program supervised by your doctor,
that includes a reduced calorie diet and appropriate physical activity.
How should I take MERIDIA?
Take this medicine only as directed. Do not take more of it, do not take it
more often, and do not take it for a longer time than directed by your doctor.
To do so may increase the chance of developing unwanted effects, such as high
blood pressure.
Follow a reduced-calorie diet while taking MERIDIA, as directed by your doctor.
MERIDIA may be taken with or without food, on a full or empty stomach. However,
if your doctor tells you to take it in a certain way, take it as directed.
Most important fact about MERIDIA.
Make a point of keeping follow-up appointments with your doctor. MERIDIA can
increase your blood pressure, so it’s important to have your blood pressure
and pulse monitored at the beginning of therapy and regularly thereafter.
Special Information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
The use of MERIDIA during pregnancy is not recommended. If you are in your child-bearing
years, take reliable contraceptive measures while using this drug. If you do
become pregnant, or plan on becoming pregnant, tell your doctor immediately.
It is not know whether MERIDIA appears in breast milk; its use while breastfeeding
is not recommended.
How long should I take MERIDIA?
Your doctor will determine how long you should take MERIDIA. Follow your doctor’s
advice. The safety and effectiveness of MERIDIA have not been determined beyond
one (1) year at this time.
What are possible food and drug interactions when taking MERIDIA?
Remember that MERIDIA must never be taken within 2 weeks of using an MAO inhibitor
such as Marplan, Nardil, or Parnate. The combination could lead to serious,
even fatal, overstimulation.
MERIDIA may also interact with a wide variety of other prescription and over-the-counter
drugs, especially weight-reducing agents, decongestants, antidepressants, allergy
medications, and cough and cold remedies that contain ephedrine or pseudoephedrine.
If you have any doubt about the safety of a combination, be sure to check with
your doctor.
What are the side effects of MERIDIA?
Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may
need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects
occur:
Less common: achiness; chills; fast or irregular heartbeat; increased blood
pressure; mental depression; painful menstruation; swelling of body or of feet
and ankles.
Rare: bruising or red spots or patches on skin; convulsions (seizures); excessive
bleeding following injury; headache (severe); rapidly changing moods; skin rash;
weight gain (unusual).
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These
side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine.
However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue
or are bothersome.
More common: anxiety; constipation; dizziness; dryness of mouth; headache; irritability
or unusual impatience; nervousness; stuffy or runny nose; trouble in sleeping.
Less common: abdominal pain; back pain; burning, itching, prickling, or tingling
of skin; change in sense of taste; diarrhea; drowsiness; increase in appetite;
increased sweating; increased thirst; indigestion; nausea; unusual warmth or
flushing of skin.
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