Meridia

Meridia - What is it?

Meridia® (sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate) is a medication for weight loss available only on prescription. It has been approved to aid people lose weight and also to maintain the weight they have lost.

Meridia - Who manufactures it?

Meridia is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories.

Meridia - How does it work?

Meridia works by making you feel full quickly. It works in the brain by increasing the levels of certain brain chemicals (that include norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin) in particular areas of the brain.

Meridia does not boost the brain chemicals production. In its place, it stops the reuptake of the chemicals. When a message is sent down a nerve, it leads to the end of the cell to trigger a brain chemical. Then the chemical goes through the gap linking the first nerve cell to the subsequent one. As soon as adequate chemical reaches the second nerve cell there is activation of the receptors on the cell and the message flow continues. Then the first cell speedily absorbs the extra chemical that is left in the gap linking the cells thereby stopping the chemical from activating the subsequent cell. This is known as reuptake.

Meridia aids to obstruct the reuptake of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin, as a result further quantities of these chemicals stay in the space linking the brain’s nerve cells. This provides the chemicals a better likelihood of activating the receptors on the subsequent nerve cell. This action promotes a feeing of fullness and signals to stop more intake of food. Is does not cause appetite suppression.

Meridia - Effectiveness

The results of studies indicate that medications help people lose weight. After using Meridia for six months in combination with dieting, people have lost almost 18 pounds as against people who lost only 2.9 pounds while dieting only. Having higher doses of mediation produced maximum weight loss. The results of a one year study were also similar.

Clinical studies show that Meridia can also help people who have already lost weight to maintain such weight loss and keep off the weight. As per one study, almost 43 percent of people using Meridia along with dieting could keep off a minimum of 80 percent of their original weight loss even after two years as against just 3 percent of the people who were only on a diet.

Also, studies claim that taking Meridia in combination with dieting can produce favorable changes in the levels of cholesterol, which is probably on account of weight loss. There was a reduction in total cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels and bad cholesterol (LDL), whereas there was an increase in good cholesterol (HDL) levels.

Meridia – Timing and Procedure of taking it

Here are some of the general instruction on the timing and procedure of taking Meridia:

* It is available in capsule form and is to be taken orally, once a day.
* It can be taken either on an empty stomach or along with food. In case it upsets your stomach, you could take it along with food.
* Meridia must be used with a combination of a low calorie diet and is not meant to be had without dieting.
* For Meridia to be effective, it should be taken as per prescription.

Meridia - Dosage Information

Your dosage of Meridia as prescribed by your doctor could vary based on numerous factors. They include:

* Your response to Meridia
* Whether you experience dangerous or harmful side effects
* Any other present medical conditions
* Any other medications you are on

As with the case of all medicines, do not modify your dosage unless your doctor has specifically instructed you to do so.

Meridia - Side Effects

As in the case of any medication, there is a likelihood of side effects with Meridia. But, not all people taking this medication would experience the side effects. In reality, a lot of people endure it fairly well. In case there occurs any side effects, in a lot of cases they are negligible and mostly do not require treatment or could be treated easily by you or your doctor. The occurrence of serious side effects is rare.

Some of the common side effects are listed below though it is not an exhaustive list:

* Dry mouth
* Headaches
* Appetite loss
* Sleeplessness
* Constipation

Meridia – Other Drug Interactions

Meridia could interact with numerous other medications.

Meridia - What should I tell my Doctor?

Before you take this medication you should inform your doctor in case you suffer from the following:

* Glaucoma
* High blood pressure (known as hypertension)
* Heart problems
* Epilepsy or seizures
* Previous stroke
* Kidney disease, such as kidney failure
* Liver diseases, for instance cirrhosis, hepatitis or liver failure
* Gallstones
* Bleeding disorders
* A history of alcohol or drug abuse
* Eating disorders, for instance bulimia or anorexia nervosa
* Allergies, such as allergies to preservatives, dyes or food
* Depression.

Also, inform your doctor in case you are:

* Pregnant or intend to get pregnant
* Breast feeding.

Ensure you inform your doctor about all other medications you are on, which includes non-prescription and prescription drugs, herbal supplements and vitamins.

Meridia – What to do in case of an Overdose?

When higher doses of Meridia are taken people could experience some of the below mentioned symptoms:

* Headaches
* High blood pressure (known as hypertension)
* Dizziness
* A rapid heart rate (known as tachycardia).

In case you take an overdose of Meridia, immediately seek medical attention.

Meridia - Storage Methods

Meridia capsules are to be stored away from heat and moisture, and at room temperature. The capsules are to be kept in an airtight container. You should keep all medications including Meridia away from the reach of children.

Meridia – Missed Dose

In case you forget a dose of Meridia, you should leave out the missed dose and carry on with your usual schedule. Never take a double dose of Meridia or make an effort to compensate any missed dose.

Meridia – Available Strengths

The Meridia capsules are available in the strengths listed below:

* Meridia 5 mg
* Meridia 10 mg
* Meridia 15 mg.

Meridia - Is there a generic version available?

Presently, there are no approved generic versions of Meridia is available for sale.