Consumer Information

Meridia

sibutramine (sih BYOO tra meen)

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What is the most important information I should know about Meridia?

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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.

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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.

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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 is Meridia?

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

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

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

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Meridia?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

How should I take Meridia?

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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.

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Take each dose with a full glass of water.

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

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Meridia can be taken with or without food.

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

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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.

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Store Meridia at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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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 I overdose?

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Seek emergency medical attention.

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Symptoms of a Meridia overdose are not known.

What should I avoid while taking Meridia?

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What are the possible side effects of Meridia?

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

Where can I get more information?

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Your pharmacist has more information about Meridia written for health professionals that you may read.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed

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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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