Meridia

What is Meridia

Meridia affects chemicals in the body that are related to weight maintenance.

Meridia is used as a short-term supplement to diet and exercise in the treatment of obesity.

Meridia may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

General medical information about Meridia

Meridia has been reported to cause increased blood pressure in some patients. It is important to have your blood pressure and pulse monitored regularly while taking Meridia.

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Meridia may cause dizziness, difficulty concentrating, or restlessness. If you experience these effects, avoid hazardous activities.

Do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines without first talking to your doctor, especially weight-loss products, tryptophan (L-tryptophan, 5-HTP), decongestants, antidepressants, cough suppressants, lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, Lithonate, others), and migraine medicines.

What you should find out before taking Meridia

Do not take Meridia without first talking to your doctor if you
- have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the last 14 days;
- have anorexia nervosa;
- are taking an appetite suppressant;
- have high blood pressure;
- have heart disease, irregular heartbeats, congestive heart failure, or a history of stroke;
- have epilepsy or another seizure disorder;
- have gallstones;
- have glaucoma;
- have liver disease; or
- have kidney disease.

You may not be able to take Meridia, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Meridia is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether Meridia will harm an unborn baby. Do not take Meridia without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether Meridia passes into breast milk. Do not take Meridia without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

The safety and effectiveness of Meridia have not been studied in children younger than 16 years of age.

How should take Meridia

Take Meridia exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Meridia is usually taken once a day. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Meridia can be taken with or without food.

Never take more of this medication than is prescribed for you. Too much Meridia could be dangerous.

Meridia has been reported to cause increased blood pressure in some patients. It is important to have your blood pressure and pulse monitored regularly while taking Meridia.

Store Meridia at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

If you miss a dose:

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if you overdose:

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of a Meridia overdose are not known.

Avoid while taking Meridia

Possible side effects of Meridia

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Meridia and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
- an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
- an irregular heartbeat;
- high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision); or
- seizures.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Meridia and talk to your doctor if you experience
- restlessness or tremor,
- nervousness or anxiety,
- mild headache or dizziness,
- insomnia,
- dry mouth or an unpleasant taste in your mouth, or
- constipation.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Meridia

Do not take Meridia if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction may occur.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking
- lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, Lithonate, others);
- almotriptan (Axert), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), or zolmitriptan (Zomig);
- citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), or fluvoxamine (Luvox);
- venlafaxine (Effexor), nefazodone (Serzone), mirtazapine (Remeron), or thioridazine (Mellaril);
- amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), or trimipramine (Surmontil);
- dihydroergotamine (D.H.E.);
- dextromethorphan (in many cough medicines);
- meperidine (Demerol);
- fentanyl (Duragesic); or
- pentazocine (Talacen, Talwin).

Meridia may interact with the medicines listed above and cause anxiety, restlessness, loss of consciousness, confusion, weakness, tremor, poor coordination, fever, shivering, sweating, vomiting, a fast heartbeat, and other symptoms. These reactions can be very dangerous and require medical attention. Do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines without first talking to your doctor, especially weight-loss products, tryptophan (L-tryptophan, 5-HTP), decongestants, antidepressants, cough suppressants, lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, Lithonate, others), or migraine medicines.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Meridia. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.