Meridia

(Raductil, Reductil, Vintix, Sibutramine HCL, Ectiva, Obestat, Aderan, Sibutral, Sibutramina, Sibutraminum, Leptos)

Meridia Review

Meridia (active ingredient, sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate) is a relatively new diet drug.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Meridia, the brand name of the generic drug sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate, in November 1997 for the long-term treatment of obesity. It is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories, who also sells the drug in Europe under the brand names Reductil, Reduxade, and Ectiva.

In February 1998, Meridia (sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate) was approved in the United States for treatment of obesity. In clinical trials, 85 percent of subjects lost 5 percent of initial body weight, and 57 percent lost 10 percent. Fifteen percent of subjects did not lose any weight or gained weight taking this medication.

Meridia should only be taken as part of an overall weight control program, which should also include a healthy weight loss diet, regular physical exercise and other appropriate lifestyle modifications.

Meridia - Who can take?

Meridia is for patients whose excess weight, in the opinion of their doctor, presents a health risk.

Meridia may be right for you if you are considerably overweight (a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater). Meridia may also be right for you if you are overweight (a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater) in the presence of other risk factors (e.g., high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, large waist measurement).

Meridia- How to take?

Meridia is available in 5, 10 and 15 mg capsules. The minimum effective dose is 10 mg. Physicians may increase the dose to 15 mg in patients who do not respond to 10 mg, provided there are no adverse side effects.

Take this medication on an empty stomach, once daily, 30-60 minutes before breakfast. The full effect on weight may require four to six weeks. Do not increase your dose, take it more frequently or use it for a longer period of time than prescribed because this drug can be habit-forming. Also, if used for a longer period of time, do not suddenly stop using this drug without your doctor's approval. Over time, this drug may not work as well as it did at the beginning.

Meridia – How does it work?

Meridia affects the appetite control centers in the brain. It reduces food intake by increasing satiety, or the feeling of fullness, but it is not an appetite suppressant.

Meridia hinders the reabsorption in the brain of two chemicals that make people feel full. By not allowing these chemicals to be absorbed by the nerve cells in the brain, a feeling of fullness occurs sooner, which should lead to reduced food intake and, subsequently, to weight loss.

Meridia Side Effects

The more common side effects of taking Meridia 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, stomach ache and 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 problems, emotional changes, fever, gas, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, itching, laryngitis, leg cramps, menstrual problems, migraine headache, muscle ache, rectal problems, reduced vision, stimulation, sweating, swelling, thirst, throbbing heartbeat, tingling skin sensation, urinary tract infection, vaginal yeast infection and vomiting.

For those who experience side effects at the 10-mg level, a 5-mg dose may prove sufficient. This may be increased after 4 weeks.

Meridia Precautions

Before using Meridia, tell your doctor your entire medical history, including any allergies (especially drug allergies), liver or kidney disease, high blood pressure or heart disease, history of stroke or seizures, certain eating disorders (e.g., anorexia nervosa), glaucoma (narrow angle), or history of gallstones. Limit alcohol intake, as it may worsen certain side effects of this medication. It is recommended that women of child-bearing age should use effective birth control while taking this medication. This drug is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using this drug. It is not known whether this drug is excreted into breast milk. Because of the potential risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding. Elderly patients may be more sensitive to the effects of this drug.

Meridia Storage

Capsules should be stored at 25°C (77°F). Brief periods at higher or lower temperatures, i.e., 15-30°C (59-86°F) are permitted. The medication should be stored in a tight, light-resistant container.

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