Weight Loss // Meridia (sibutramine)
Meridia is a weight-loss aid prescribed to clinically obese patients with a Body
Mass Index of over 30 or with a BMI of over 27 accompanied by additional risk factors
(such as high blood cholesterol levels).
Due to possible side effects, Meridia is not prescribed for cosmetic reasons
but only in cases of obesity that seriously threatens
the patient's health. It should be used along with a
reduced-calory diet and physical activity, and under a doctor's supervision.
How Meridia Is Used
Meridia is available in several different dosages: 5mg, 10mg, and
15mg pills. Usual starting dosage is one 10mg pill per day.
How Meridia Works
Meridia acts chemically on the area of the brain that controls appetite. Unlike
other weight-loss pills, Meridia does not suppress the desire to start eating, but
helps create a sense of fullness. This means that once the patient is eating, he or
she is satisfied with less food.
Who Should and Shouldn't Use Meridia
As mentioned above, Meridia should only be taken by dangerously obese patients:
patients with a Body Mass Index of over 30 or with a Body Mass Index of over 27
accompanied by additional risk factors.
Body Mass Index, or BMI for short, is a number that stands for total body fat
and represents the risk to experience certain diseases and complications related to
body fat. To know your BMI and whether it means you should try taking Meridia, consult
your doctor. To get an idea of your BMI you can use the
BMI Calculator
at the official Meridia website.
Meridia can seriously raise the patient's blood pressue and should not be used
by patients with high blood pressue problems.
Other Important Notes
Meridia can have some serious side effects for some patients. For a full list of
possible side effects, you can consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Like most drugs, Meridia may interact chemically with certain other substances
in a way that impedes the effectivity of either drug or creates dangerous side-effects.
You cannot use Meridia if you are taking or have recently taken a medicine of the
family called MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitors). You cannot use Meridia if you
are already using another weight-loss aid that acts on the brain, such as phentermine.
Tell your doctor of any drugs you are using before you start taking Meridia.
More Information
See official Meridia website.
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