Meridian Weight Loss

The numbers are in, and they're awful! Harvard Health reports two-thirds of U.S. adults are obese. If you're one of them, your risks include heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. If so, you may have considered prescription drug therapy, possibly, sibutramine, brand name Meridia. However, Meridia's potential results must be weighed against its possible side effects.

How Meridia Works

Meridia is usually prescribed for short-term weight loss after diet and exercise have failed, or in cases where medical conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure make weight loss imperative. Meridia works to suppress the appetite by inhibiting your body's reuptake of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephedrine. Meridia is classified as an SSRI---Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. SSRIs are usually prescribed to patients as antidepressants. They work by blocking neurotransmitters from reabsorbing biochemicals, leaving more available to the brain. This improves neurotransmission and, as a result, your mood and sense of safety. This alteration also may result in appetite suppression.

Weight Loss Plan

If you and your doctor agree that Meridia is right for your weight-loss plan, it will probably be prescribed during the first few weeks of your diet. Because its effectiveness diminishes after the first few weeks of use, it is generally phased out after that. In most cases, your doctor will arrange for you to modify your behavior for long-term results. As the Mayo Clinic points out, to be successful, you have to reduce calories and exercise while using sibutramine. One National Institutes of Health study found that counseling on diet and exercise and Meridia in combination worked better than either one alone.

Side Effects

Though Meridia can help you lose weight, it may have side effects. Dizziness, constipation, dry mouth, drowsiness, sleeplessness and headache have been reported. In some cases, elevated blood pressure and increased heart rate have occurred. This makes Meridia a greater risk for those with a history of heart disease or irregularities, high blood pressure, glaucoma or stroke. If you have anorexia, bulimia or osteoporosis, you need to inform your physician as well. And, you should also consider that the long-term effects of using Meridia are as yet unknown. Finally, tell your doctor of any allergies you have and of all other medications you are taking before beginning Meridia use.

Warning

Recently, several over-the-counter diet products were recalled, having been found to contain the active ingredient in Meridia. The FDA states that sibutramine poses a significant threat to consumers with heart conditions or history of stroke, arrhythmias, stroke or high blood pressure. Do not risk your health by using sibutramine without the supervision of a doctor.