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What special precautions should I follow?
Children¡XStudies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of Meridia in children with use in other age groups.
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What special precautions should I follow?
It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. Meridia may increase blood pressure or heart rate and your doctor will check for these effects. Your doctor may need to adjust y
our dose.
If Meridia does not seem to be working well, do not increase your dosage. Check with your doctor.
Do not drink excess alcohol while taking Meridia.
Notify your do
ctor as soon as possible if you develop a skin rash, hives, or other allergic symptoms.
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Side Effects of This Medicine
Dry mouth, sleeplessness, irritability, back pain, stomach upset or constipation may occur the first few days as you body adjusts to the medication. Stop MERIDIA if you experience; rash, hives, seizur
es, worsening of vision, decreased amount of urine or unusual bleeding or bruising. Stop MERIDIA immediately if you experience the following side effects or symptoms of toxicity; excitement, restlessn
ess, loss of consciousness, confusion, agitation, weakness, shivering, clumsiness or unsteadiness, fast heartbeat, large-unchanging pupils, vomiting, trouble breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain
s, swelling of feet/ankles or legs, fainting, disorientation, depression, high fever, eye pain, tremor or increased sweating.
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Proper Use of This Medicine
The recommended starting dose of MERIDIA is 10-milligrams administered once daily with or without food. If there is inadequate weight loss, the dose may be titrated after 4 weeks to a total of 15-mill
igrams taken once daily. The 5-milligram dose should be reserved for those patients that do not tolerate the 10-milligram dose. Blood pressure and heart rate changes should betaken into consideration
when making decisions regarding dose titration. Take this medication as prescribed. Do not take it more often or longer than directed. Use in combination with other appetite suppressant medicine is ge
nerally not recommended.
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What is this Drug
Patients treated with MERIDIA while on a reduced calorie diet showed significant weight loss during the first 6 months of treatment, and significant weight loss was maintained for one year. In one 12-
month study, the average weight loss in patients taking MERIDIA, 10 mg daily, was about 10 lbs. and in those taking 15 mg daily was about 14 lbs. The average weight loss in persons on only a reduced c
alorie diet alone was 3 1/2 lbs. Thus, MERIDIA is proven effective therapy for the obese patient who needs to loose weight to decease morbidity. Nonetheless, the magnitude of the weight loss will ulti
mately depend on the degree of concomitant caloric restriction and the concomitant use of a graded exercise program.
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MERIDIA is a short-term drug that helps you to start losing weight and then keep on going when you are ready to carry on, on your own. Your body starts to build up a resistance to the effects of MERIDIA after a few weeks of treatment, which
When you are taking Meridia, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:
- Moclobemide (e.g., Manerex)¡XTaking moclobemide and M
eridia together or less than 3 days apart may increase the chance of developing serious unwanted effects, including the serotonin syndrome, and is not recommended
- Meperidine (e.g., Demerol) or
- Nefazodone (e.g., Serzone) or
- Pentazocine (e.g., Talwin) or
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (citalopram [e.g., Celexa], fluoxetine [e.g., Prozac], fluvoxamine [e.g., Luvox
], paroxetine [e.g., Paxil], sertraline [e.g., Zoloft]) or
- Street drugs (LSD, MDMA [e.g., ecstasy], marijuana) or
- Sumatriptan (e.g., Imitrex)
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