| What Is Meridia Used For?Meridia should be used by | | | | Other Drugs?Make sure you tell your doctor about all |
| people who are overweight and have an inital body | | | | prescription and nonprescription medications you use; |
| mass index of at least 30. It is recommended that | | | | other weight loss medications in particular (such as |
| Meridia also be used by people with BMI of at least | | | | diethylpropion), and drugs that may raise your blood |
| 27 if they are at risk for high cholesterol, diabetes, or | | | | pressure. Examples of these include decongestants |
| high blood pressure. Talk to your doctor to find out | | | | such as pseudoephedrine and |
| your BMI and whether or not it's alright for you to | | | | phenylpropanolamine.Tell your doctor if you use any |
| use a Meridia prescription.How Do I Use It?Meridia | | | | cough suppressants like dextromethorphan; |
| should be taken orally and in the exact way directed | | | | antidepressants such as nefazodone; fluoxetine, |
| by your doctor. This usually involves one dose daily.It | | | | sertraline, paroxetine, venlafaxine, and fluvoxamine. |
| may take 4-6 weeks for results to show. Please do | | | | Other examples include lithium, MAO inhibitors such as |
| not raise your dose, take Meridia more frequently, or | | | | selegiline, moclobemide, furazolidone, phenelzine, |
| use your prescription for a longer time than | | | | tranylcypromine, and other medications such as |
| prescribed by your doctor; Meridia can be addictive. If | | | | lithium.You should also let your doctor know if you |
| you have taken Meridia for a long time, please do not | | | | use any drugs to treat migraines (ex: |
| stop taking it suddenly without talking to your doctor | | | | dihydroergotamine and sumatriptan), certain pain |
| first. As with many prescription drugs, Meridia may | | | | relievers that are narcotics (ex. pentazocine, fentanyl, |
| gradually decrease in effectiveness because your | | | | meperidine), erythromycin, ketoconazole. Also tell |
| body builds tolerance to it. Talk to your doctor if you | | | | your doctor about any high blood pressure medicines |
| gain weight after you start taking your prescription. | | | | you use, and any other drugs that may cause |
| You make take it either before or after a meal.Are | | | | drowsiness. These include certain types of |
| There Any Meridia Side Effects?The common side | | | | antihistamines (ex., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure, and |
| effects of Meridia include dry mouth, sleepiness, | | | | sedative medications.You can find antihistamines and |
| difficulty sleeping, and constipation. If any of the | | | | decongestants for cough and cold in many |
| effects persist beyond the first week | | | | nonprescription drugs. Talk to your pharmacist about |
| (approximately) or become worse, please tell your | | | | this. Also, MAO Inhibitors and Meridia should not be |
| doctor as soon as possible. Read more on this | | | | taken together. If you stop the use of your Meridia |
| warning here.Please do not give your medication to | | | | prescription or an MAO Inhibitor, make sure to wait 2 |
| others. Your Meridia prescription should be taken in | | | | weeks before you start using the other drug.What If |
| combination with a diet plan of reduced calories. In | | | | I Miss My Dose?In the case that you miss one of |
| order to monitor the possible side effects, your pulse | | | | your doses, please take it as soon as possible. |
| and blood pressure can be measured and used in | | | | However, if it is near the scheduled time for your |
| laboratory testing.Is Meridia Safe?Let your doctor | | | | next dose, just skip the dose missed and start back |
| know about your complete medical history. This | | | | with your prescribed dosing schedule. Do not take |
| includes any information regarding allergies (most | | | | twice the normal dose to make up for a missed |
| importantly drug allergies), disease of the liver or | | | | dose.How Should I Store Meridia?Store your |
| kidneys, heart disease, history of stroke or seizures, | | | | prescription at room temperature. This includes |
| high blood pressure, eating disorders (ex., anorexia | | | | temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15-30 |
| nervosa), glaucoma, or gallstones.Limit or avoid your | | | | degrees C). Keep it away from humidity/moisture |
| intake of alcohol because it could make certain side | | | | and light. Make sure to keep all of your medications |
| effects worse. Women who are of the childbearing | | | | out of reach of children.What Else Should I Know?Do |
| age should talk to their doctor about using any birth | | | | not share any of your prescription with people. |
| control pills with Meridia. Unless directed otherwise, do | | | | Meridia should be used along with a diet plan of |
| not use this drug while you are pregnant. Also, | | | | reduced calories. Your pulse and blood pressure can |
| because there is a risk for infants, do not breastfeed | | | | be taken/measured along with laboratory tests to |
| while taking Meridia. Patients who are elderly may | | | | monitor side effects.Learn more about the Meridia |
| experienced heightened levels of side effects. Please | | | | diet pill at Shoppe.MD. |
| use with cautious.How Does Meridia Interact With | | | | |