Drug Information - Meridia
Brand: Meridia (mer-ID-dee-uh)
Generic Name: Sibutramine Hydrochloride
Meridia helps the seriously overweight shed pounds and keep them off. It is
especially recommended for those who in addition to being overweight have other
health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol.
It is used in conjunction with alow-calorie diet. Meridia works by boosting
levels of certain chemical messengers in the nervous system, including
serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
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.
Meridia can be taken with or without food. --If you miss a dose... Take it as
soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you
missed and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Storage instructions
Store at room temperature away from heat and moisture in a tight,
light-resistant container.
If Meridia gives you an allergic reaction, you won't be able to use it. You
should also avoid Meridia (and certainly don't need it) if you suffer from the
compulsive dieting disorder known as anorexia nervosa. Do not combine Meridia
with other drugs used to suppress appetite, and do not use it within 2 weeks of
taking a drug classified as an MAO inhibitor, including the antidepressant
medications Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate.
Use Meridia with caution if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure; it
could make the problem worse. Avoid Meridia completely if you've had a stroke or
suffer from heart disease, heart failure, or irregular heartbeat. Also avoid it
if you have severe kidney or liver problems; the drug has not been tested under
these conditions. Seizures are a rare, but possible, side effect. If you've had
seizures in the past, use Meridia with caution. If you have a seizure while
taking the drug, stop using it and call your doctor immediately.
Any drug that acts on the nervous system can theoretically impair judgment,
thinking, and motor skills. Meridia does not seem to have this effect, but
caution is still in order until you know how the drug affects you. If you have
narrow-angle glaucoma or thyroid problems, make sure the doctor knows;Meridia
should be used with caution in these circumstances.
If you are prone to gallstones, be aware that weight loss can cause more of them
to form. Meridia has not been tested in people under 16 years old. It should be
used with caution in those over 65. Although it has been classified as a
controlled substance (potentially subject to abuse), the possibility of
developing physical or psychological dependence is low.
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, over stimulation. 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 suppressants that contain ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine,
orpseudoephedrine. Among the many drugs that pose a potential problem are the
following:
Alcohol (excessive amounts) Dextromethorphan (found in many over-the-counter
cough preparations)
Dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. Injection, Migranal Nasal Spray) Erythromycin (Eryc,
Ery-Tab, PCE)
Fentanyl (Duragesic) Fluoxetine (Prozac) Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
Ketoconazole (Nizoral) Lithium (Lithobid, Lithonate)
Meperidine (Demerol)
Naratriptan (Amerge)
Paroxetine (Paxil) Pentazocine (Talwin NX, Talacen)
Sertraline (Zoloft)
Stimulants such as amphetamines, Dexedrine, Desoxyn, Adderall, Didrex, and
Ionamin
Sumatriptan (Imitrex) Tryptophan (L-Tryptophan, Trofan)
Venlafaxine (Effexor) Zolmitriptan (Zomig)
If you have any doubt about the safety of a combination, be sure to check
with your doctor.
Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity,
inform yourdoctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is
safe for you to continue taking Meridia.
More common side effects may include: Abdominal pain, acid indigestion,
anxiety, back pain, constipation, cough increase, depression, dizziness, dry
mouth, flu symptoms, headache, increased appetite, insomnia, joint pain, loss of
appetite, loss of strength, nasal inflammation, nausea, nervousness, painful
menstruation, rash, sinus inflammation, stomachache, sore throat
Less common side effects may include: Acne, abnormal thinking, agitation,
allergic reaction, arthritis, bronchitis, changes in taste, chest pain, dental
problems, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, drowsiness, ear pain, ear problems,
emotional changes, fever,gas, heavy uterine bleeding, herpes simplex virus,
increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, itching, laryngitis, leg cramps,
menstrual problems, migraine headache, muscle ache, neck pain, rectal problems,
reduced vision, stimulation, stomach and intestinal inflammation, sweating,
swelling, thirst, throbbing heartbeat, tingling skin sensation, urinary tract
infection, vaginal yeast infection, vomiting
Rare side effects may include: Bleeding problems, kidney problems, seizures
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 known whether Meridia appears in breast milk; its use
while breast feeding is not recommended.
ADULTS
The starting dose is 10 milligrams once daily. If you have not lost at least 4
pounds after 4 weeks, the doctor may increase the dose to 15 milligrams daily.
This is the maximum; if weight loss still fails to appear, Meridia will be
discontinued.
For those who experience side effects at the 10-milligram level, a 5-milligram
dose may prove sufficient.
Use of Meridia for longer than 1 year has not been studied.
Although doctors have had little experience with overdoses of Meridia, increased
heart rate and blood pressure are possible results. Since any medication taken
in excess can have serious consequences, seek medical attention immediately if
you suspect an overdose.
