To buy Meridia at one of the online pharmacies listed in the price comparison chart is a fairly simple process. All you have to do is fill out a questionere (online consultation form) and the affiliated pharmacy will then have one of the doctors prescribe Meridia for you (if it is found to be an appropriate diet medication for your particular health background). None of the online pharmacies listed on this site charge for this consultation fee. In the pricing of Meridia this is a fairly important fact to keep in mind as you might find lower prices elsewhere only to find out that you have to pay for the consultation fee which can range from $50-75. This in turn will drive up your total cost for your order. One of the factors that is considered on your consultation for the issue of a Meridia prescription is your Body Mass Index (BMI). Generally these doctors will not issue you a prescription for Meridia if your BMI is not at least 27. To figure your BMI you can use our BMI chart.

Did you Know? - Did you know prescription pills are tax deductible? It's true! Prescription medications are tax deductible while over-the-counter medications are not. For more visit www.irs.gov. When you get to this page type 'Prescription' into the search textbox at the top left of the page. After the new page comes up, click on the "Publications: What Medical expenses are deductible" link.

What Meridia Does

Meridia affects the appetite control centers of the brain. It actually works on the chemicals that are naturally present in the area of the brain that controls appetite.

Unfortunately, these prescription diet pills don't take away your hunger completely; you will still have the urge to eat, but you'll want to eat less. Keep in mind that it sometimes takes two to three weeks before the effects of taking this prescription weight loss medicine are noticed.

What makes Meridia so effective is that it helps patients control the amounts of food they eat. Often you will hear that dieting is all about “portions.” These diet pills help you eat smaller portions and feel fuller. By taking away some of your appetite, Meridia helps you avoid the temptation to binge or overeat. This support is especially important when you're trying to avoid high-calorie foods.

Studies have also shown that this weight loss medicine reduces a patient’s preoccupation with food. It you’re not always thinking about food, it’s a whole lot easier to lose weight.

Who Should Take Meridia?

This prescription medicine is recommended for overweight people with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or for overweight people with a BMI of 27 or higher if they have medical risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol. Your doctor can determine your BMI and will decide if you meet these criteria. If you like, you can use our BMI Chart to figure your body mass index.

Did You Know? - MERIDIA SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASES BLOOD PRESSURE IN SOME PATIENTS. REGULAR MONITORING OF BLOOD PRESSURE IS REQUIRED WHEN TAKING MERIDIA.

How long does it take for MERIDIA to work?

Most people who lose weight on these diet pills lose it in the first 6 months of treatment. Scientific studies that lasted two years have shown that many people who lost weight and remained on Meridia therapy maintained their weight loss.

Every person will respond differently to this prescription weight loss medicine when used as part of a comprehensive weight-loss program. You may be able to lose 4 or more pounds of body weight in the first month you take MERIDIA.

What are some of the more common side effects of MERIDIA?

Meridia, like all medications, may cause side effects. The most common side effects include headache, dry mouth, constipation, and insomnia (difficulty falling asleep). Other side effects that may occur when taking these diet pills include: increased sweating, an increase in blood pressure, and an increase in heart rate. These side effects are generally mild and have usually not caused people to stop taking Meridia. If you develop a symptom that you think might be a side effect, stop taking this prescription medicine and notify your doctor immediately, so he or she can advise you on what to do.

Did You Know? - That Meridia is a controlled substance in Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

Who should not take MERIDIA?

Meridia diet pills should not be taken by people who:

• Have Uncontrolled or poorly controlled blood pressure.
• Are taking prescription medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression, Parkinson's Disease, or any other disorder (for example: Eldepryl®, Parnate®, Nardil®).
• Are taking other weight loss medications that act on the brain (for example: phentermine). This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications and herbal products.
• Have had prior allergic reactions to MERIDIA or sibutramine.
• Have a diagnosis of coronary artery disease and/or who have angina pectoris (heart-related chest pain).
• Have arrhythmias (irregular heart beats).
• Have had a prior heart attack.
• Have a diagnosis of congestive heart failure.
• Have severe liver or kidney disease.
• Have had a stroke or symptoms of a stroke (transient ischemic attacks [TIAs]).
• Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
• Are breast-feeding their infants.
• Are suffering from anorexia nervosa.
• Are taking prescription medications for depression.
• Have had seizures (epilepsy or convulsions).
• Have an eye disorder called narrow angle glaucoma.
• Are under 16 years of age.
• Are taking other medications that regulate the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain (for example: Prozac®, Zoloft®, Effexor®, Luvox®, Paxil® or Zyban®).

Did You Know? - You cannot take Meridia if you are taking prescription medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). It is especially important to make sure you tell your doctor if you are taking MAOIs which are sometimes used to treat depression or Parkinson's Disease (for example: Eldepryl®, Nardil®, Parnate®). This is very important because serious, sometimes even fatal, reactions can occur if the Meridia diet pill is taken at the same time MAOIs are taken.

Does MERIDIA cause damage to the heart valves?

Certain weight-loss drugs have been associated with cardiac valve dysfunction (heart valve disease). Patients in two studies were examined by doctors who used cardiac ultrasound testing to carefully look at heart valve structure and function. In one study, 25 patients were examined before treatment with Meridia and again after three months of treatment. None of the patients had heart valve disease. In another study, patients who had received either Meridia or placebo (sugar pills) for periods of two weeks to 16 months were examined. Three out of 132 patients (2.3%) who had taken the Meridia prescription weight loss medicine and two out of 77 patients (2.6%) who had taken placebo were found to have heart valve disease.

Meridia and Nutritional Supplements

Non-drug nutritional supplements, like vitamins, minerals and amino acids (with the exception of tryptophan) can be used along with Meridia diet pills. You should make sure your doctor knows what nutritional supplements you are taking and why you are taking them. You should not take Meridia if you are taking tryptophan. You should not use herbal or over-the-counter weight-loss products while taking MERIDIA.

Did You Know? - That Meridia will not affect the effectiveness of birth control pills.

Meridia and Alcohol

Meridia may increase the sedative effects of alcohol. It is important that you let your doctor know how often, and what type of alcoholic beverages you drink. Your doctor can advise you best as to whether you should drink alcoholic beverages while on this prescription medicine.

Meridia and Caffeinated Beverages

Meridia can be safely taken with moderate use of coffee, tea or caffeinated beverages. You should check with your doctor to make sure that you do not have a medical condition that can be aggravated by these beverages independent of being on MERIDIA. You should check with your doctor if you consume a great deal of caffeinated beverages or use over-the-counter pills that contain caffeine.

Did You Know? - The chemical name for Meridia is sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate.

Meridia in the News

The Sibutramine Trial of Obesity Reduction and Maintenance – the S.T.O.R.M. Trial – is a two-year study that looked at weight loss and weight maintenance in patients using sibutramine (Meridia), with diet and exercise, compared to patients on diet and exercise alone. This study, published in the Lancet, a leading international medical journal, demonstrated that sibutramine, in combination with diet and exercise, was significantly more effective than diet and exercise alone in maintaining weight loss over 2 years. Additional analyses of this study demonstrated that weight loss in the sibutramine treatment group was also associated with significant improvements in HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

In early March 2002, the Ministry of Health in Italy temporarily suspended sales of Reductil® (sibutramine, brand available in Italy) based on 2 reports of death in Italy. Abbott Laboratories' thorough review of these reports indicated that both patients had other complicating conditions and had been taking other medications. While any death is a tragedy, there is no established link between the cause of these deaths and the prescription diet drug Meridia. Based on Abbott's worldwide safety analysis and clinical trial experience of Meridia, the evidence does not point to an increased risk of death in patients taking MERIDIA.

Did You Know? - In 1997, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Sibutramine Hydrochloride, also known as Meridia, for the management of obesity, a widespread, chronic disease that contributes to the deaths of an estimated 300,000 Americans each year

The FDA thinks that the drug's warning labeling is adequate for anyone who would be at risk for cardiac events, says Laura Bradbard, a spokeswoman for the FDA.

Jennifer Smoter of Abbott Laboratories says the drug is sold in 70 countries and has been used by 8.5 million people worldwide. "Based on a careful analysis of the 32 deaths reported to us (company stats differ from those obtained by Public Citizen), it does not point to an increased risk of death with the use of sibutramine. Many of those patients have serious complications of obesity, which is associated with increased mortality."

Louis Aronne of Weill-Cornell Medical Center says he has patients on Meridia diet pills who are doing very well. "The health benefits of even a small weight loss are clear," he says.

Did You Know? - After just one year on the market nearly two million Meridia prescriptions were written for the management of obesity. Meridia is now sold in 70 countries and has been used by 8.5 million people worldwide.

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