About Meridia

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Used to reduce excess body weight (Sibutramine - Oral)

Uses
This medication is used to reduce excess body weight (obesity).

How to take this medication
Take by mouth exactly as directed by your doctor, usually once daily. 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. Consult your doctor if weight increases.

Side effects
Dry mouth, drowsiness, constipation and difficulty sleeping may occur. If these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor promptly.

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 Meridia is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding. Elderly patients may be more sensitive to the effects of this drug. Use cautiously.

Drug interactions
Tell your doctor of all nonprescription and prescription medication you may use, especially other weight reducing agents (e.g., diethylpropion), drugs that can raise blood pressure such as decongestants (e.g., pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine), cough suppressants (e.g., dextromethorphan), antidepressants (e.g., nefazodone, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, venlafaxine), lithium, psychiatric medications (e.g., MAO Inhibitors such as selegiline, moclobemide, furazolidone, phenelzine, tranylcypromine), drugs for migraines (e.g., dihydroergotamine, sumatriptan), tryptophan, certain narcotic pain relievers (e.g., meperidine, pentazocine, fentanyl), ketoconazole, erythromycin, high blood pressure medicine or any drugs which can cause drowsiness, including certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), sedatives and anti-seizure drugs. Antihistamines and decongestants may be found in many nonprescription drugs for cough and cold. Consult your pharmacist. MAO Inhibitors (see above) and Meridia should not be taken together. If an MAO Inhibitor or this drug is stopped, wait 2 weeks before starting the other drug.

Notes
Do not share this medication with others. This medication should be used in addition to a reduced calorie diet. Blood pressure and pulse may be measured and laboratory tests performed to monitor side effects.

Miss dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not "double- up" the dose to catch up.

Storage
Store at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.