Meridia

Meridia (sibutramine) is a prescription appetite suppressant that can be used in people with extreme obesity who need to lose weight for health reasons (obesity increases the risk of developing a number of conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure). This drug is FDA pregnancy category C. it is not known for sure whether Meridia can affect the health of an unborn or nursing baby. You are supposed to use a reliable form of birth control while on this medication to avoid getting pregnant. Never start using Meridia if you are allergic to this medicine or if you ever had or currently have arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, or stroke. Other medical conditions you must let your doctor know before staring the treatment are: seizures, osteoporosis, chest pain, high blood pressure, migraine headaches, gallstones, cancer, glaucoma, irregular heart beat, Parkinson's disease, heart attack, any eating disorder, depression, bleeding problems, kidney disease, thyroid disease, liver disease, and pulmonary hypertension. These may significantly affect the dose you are prescribed. Make sure you always tell your health care provider about any medications you are using or intend to use while taking Meridia, as drug interactions have been reported with the following medications: anticoagulants, cancer chemotherapy medications, amiodarone, clarithromycin, antifungals, caffeine-containing products, muscle relaxants, verapamil, quinine, delavirdine, salicylate pain relievers, nausea medications, metronidazole, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, high blood pressure meds, troleandomycin, cough and cold drugs, erythromycin, isoniazid, quinidine, danazol, sleeping pills, zafirlukast, seizure medications, tranquilizers, clopidogrel, cyclosporine, lithium, sedatives, sulfa antibiotics, tryptophan, depression and anxiety meds, drugs for migraine headaches, medications for allergies, heparin, and HIV protease inhibitors. Both mild and serious side effects are possible. Mild side effects can include headache, painful menstrual periods, heartburn, flushing, weakness, dry mouth, runny nose, change in appetite, nervousness, insomnia, flu-like symptoms, constipation, and back pain. You do not need to report them to your doctor unless they get bothersome and change in intensity, which is quite rare. More serious side effects can include: sweating, overactive reflexes, sweating, weakness, agitation, anxiety, confusion, blood in your urine, vomiting, joint pain, stiff muscles, seizure, dangerously high blood pressure, shortness of breath, easy bruising or bleeding, flu symptoms, and high fever. The serious side effects must be reported immediately as some changes may need to be made to our treatment schedule. An overdose of Meridia should be reported to your health care provider or local emergency center as soon as possible. The following symptoms may indicate an overdose: headache, fast heart rate or dizziness.