Meridia
Generic Name:
Sibutramine
Brand Names:
Meridia, Reductil, Sibutrex, Ectiva
Meridia Description:
Meridia is a weight loss medication prescribed for people who have not been able to lose weight with diet alone and who are medically at risk for certain conditions due to excess weight. A serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), Meridia acts on certain chemicals in the brain to enhance the feeling of fullness after eating and increase the body’s metabolism, thus helping to reduce body weight.
Studies have shown that Meridia can help patients lose four or more pounds within the first month of treatment, with an average of 10 to 14 pounds lost within a year.
Meridia is a Schedule IV controlled substance under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act.
Meridia Side Effects:
Talk to your doctor if you experience any of the following serious side effects that are associated with Meridia treatment, as they may indicate serious conditions such as serotonin syndrome or primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH):
- Bleeding or bruising easily
- Chest pain
- Depression
- Increase in blood pressure
- Increase in heart rate
- Pounding or irregular heartbeat
- Severe abdominal pain
- Severe lightheadedness
- Severe nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling of the feet, ankles, or legs
Stop taking Meridia and notify a doctor immediately if you experience seizures or an allergic reaction during treatment.
For more information, see our Meridia side effects page.
Meridia Uses:
Meridia is part of a long-term weight loss treatment plan that includes calorie reduction and increased physical activity. The medication is an appetite suppressant and weight loss aid that is prescribed for the treatment of obesity in patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Meridia can also be prescribed for patients with a BMI of 27 or higher in the presence of other risk factors such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or a large waist circumference. The drug should only be used in those patients whose excess weight presents a health risk, in the opinion of a doctor.
Treatment with Meridia can last up to one year, as the safety and effectiveness of the drug has not been studied beyond 12 months.
Meridia Interactions:
Meridia should not be used along with any other weight-reducing medications that act on the brain, including phentermine.
Meridia should not be used with monamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) for depression or medications for Parkinson’s disease, including Eldepryl, Parnate, Nardil, Manerix. Patients taking MAOIs or other similar medications should wait at least 14 days after discontinuing MAOI treatment before taking Meridia.
Do not use Meridia with medications or herbal supplements to treat psychiatric disorders, including antipsychotics or antidepressants such as Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, Luvox, or Paxil. Do not use serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) along with Meridia. Patients who have taken these drugs should wait at least 14 days after stopping treatment before starting Meridia.
Other drugs that may interact with Meridia include:
- Cough, cold, and allergy medications that contain phenylpropanolamine, ephedrine, or pseudoephedrine
- Decongestants
- Erythromycin
- Ketoconazole
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications
Use Meridia with caution in patients taking drugs that affect blood platelet function, including atypical antipsychotics, phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants, acetylsalicylic acid, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs).
Meridia Dosage Information:
Typical Dosage Recommendations
Meridia is available in tablet form in 10 mg and 15 mg strengths. The recommended dose is 10 mg once daily, taken in the morning. If less than four pounds have been lost after taking Meridia for four weeks, the dose may be increased to 15 mg once daily.
Missing a Dose of Meridia
If a dose of Meridia is missed, wait until the next morning to take a dose. Never double dose on Meridia to make up for a missed dose.
Meridia Overdose
Seek emergency medical attention if you believe you have overdosed on Meridia. Signs of overdose include:
- Dizziness
- Fast heart beat
- Headache
- High blood pressure
- Seizures
Meridia FDA Approval:
November 22, 1997
Meridia Recall/Black Box Warning Information:
Updated Warning
On January 21, 2010, the FDA notified healthcare professionals of an updated warning on the Meridia label to include contraindications in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, including a history of coronary artery disease, stroke, transient ischemic attack, heart arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, or uncontrolled hypertension.
Other Warnings
In rare cases, Meridia and other centrally-acting weight loss agents that affect serotonin levels have been linked to cardiac valve dysfunction and primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), a rare but potentially fatal disease, when the drug is used for longer than three months. It has not been directly proven that Meridia can lead to this condition, but the incidence is approximately one to two cases per 1,000,000 patients.
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