Meridia (sibutramine) - drug affects chemicals in the brain that regulate appetite (satiety center). Meridia is used in conjunction with diet and physical exercising in the treatment of obesity caused by diabetes, high cholesterol or hypertension.

In addition to the main action, and to reduce long-term maintenance of desirable body weight, intake of Meridia helps to normalize the level of triglycerides, lipoproteins, glucose Glucose: The energy source , C-peptide, cholesterol, glycated hemoglobin and uric acid. The drug regulates food products eaten completely absorbed and excess sugar and fats are not stored in the body.

Important information about the drug Meridia

Meridia is not recommended if in the last 14 days have you taken inhibitors of mono-amino oxidase, such as furazolidone (furokson), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (azilekt), selegiline (eldepril, emzam), or tranylcypromine (parnat). If an inhibitor of mono-amino oxidase is not completely removed from the body, the use of Meridia can cause serious side effects that pose a threat to life and health. Contraindications to receiving Meridia are:

• are allergic to sibutramine Sibutramine - effective but not safe ;
• high blood pressure, not giving medical monitoring;
• eating disorder (anorexia or bulimia);
• pills that promote weight loss;
• coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis), stroke, or cardiovascular system (stroke, arrhythmia) history;

Before taking Meridia, tell your doctor if you have:

• glaucoma Glaucoma - a perspective possible blindness ;
• high blood pressure;
• hepatic or renal failure;
• depression;
• thyroid disease;
• epilepsy;
• bleeding or clotting disorders;
• cholelithiasis;
• if you are older than 65 or younger than 16 years.

Also tell your doctor about all prescription and non-prescription medicines you are taking, especially if you are using antidepressants, medications for colds or allergies, narcotic analgesics or migraine drugs. If during the first four weeks of taking Meridia combined low-calorie diet weight loss is less than 2 kg, you should seek medical advice.

Before taking Meridia

It is unknown how Meridia affects the fetus, it is not recommended to take the drug during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are expecting a child or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known whether sibutramine gets into breast milk and may harm the baby if it is, why should not take Meridia lactation without first consulting your doctor. Meridia is strictly contraindicated in persons under 16 years. Keep in mind that Meridia - is a drug and not a food additive Food additives - basic classification , It can not be assigned independently, and should be taken only on doctor's advice.

How to take Meridia

Take Meridia in full accordance with the directions on the label or your doctor prescribed. Do not increase or decrease the dose of the drug in its sole discretion, and do not stop taking Meridia ahead of time, even with the occurrence of improvement.

Generally, Meridia should be taken once daily (one capsule of 10 mg, regardless of the meal). The drug does not make sense to take at least three months. Intermittent receiving the drug for several days does not provide a tangible result. In the case of regular intake of the drug meridia weight minimize during 6 months. Meridia Generally well tolerated, but the appearance of the individual reactions or concomitantly with certain medications may need correction of the dose. Throughout the course of the drug should regularly change the blood pressure and pulse. Meridia can be taken only under medical supervision.

The maximum period of treatment - 2 years. Store this medication at room temperature in a dry, cool, dark, and the reach of children and pets. Do not let others meridian.

Missed dose

Take the missed dose of Meridia as soon as you remember about it. If the close time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and comply with the treatment schedule. Do not take extra dose to compensate missed.

Excess doses

Symptoms of excess doses include headache, dizziness, heart palpitations.

The main conclusion of the doctors - Meridia is not so simple and harmless drug, as it is advertised. By the way, if you read the instructions, developed by manufacturers, we can see that they have taken into account all contraindications and side effects of the drug. But the guide - it is for doctors and patients there is advertising, which is not so objective.

How "works" Meridia

Meridia (sibutramine) - a drug for the treatment of obesity. Its mechanism of action is that it inhibits hunger center located in a region of the brain. The big advantage of the drug Meridia is the fact that it inhibits the reflex decrease in metabolic rate (and thus energy expenditure) due to weight loss. Meridia also generally improves carbohydrate and fat metabolism.

It produces drug Meridia German pharmaceutical firm Abbott, as a product which is little doubt. Nevertheless, meridia is prohibited in some European countries (for example the UK) of the large number of side effects. Many endocrinologists in practice seen as a positive effect from the use of this drug and side effects.

Side effects when using the drug Meridia are rare, but they can be very significant.

This is shown and the drug is contraindicated

Meridia used to treat alimentary (related to dietary habits) obesity, including in combination with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. It is recommended to first try the traditional methods of treatment for obesity and then, if these are ineffective, prescribe a drug Meridia.

For the purpose of this drug is likely to require a comprehensive examination of the patient - Meridia has many contraindications. Contraindications include stable high blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbances in the form of episodes of tachycardia or atrial fibrillation, coronary heart disease, heart failure, edema, or in violation of the respiratory function. Peripheral circulatory disorders are also a contraindication for the purpose of the drug, such as poor circulation in the legs, varicose veins. No less dangerous to take the drug Meridia patients with cerebrovascular accident, ever had a stroke. Neuropsychiatric diseases Mental illness - ashamed to ask for help?   It can also be an obstacle to the administration of the drug, such as anorexia nervosa Anorexia nervosa - symptoms and effects on the body   or bulimia (aversion to food or pathologically increased appetite). Do not take this drug before the age of 18 and after 65 years, as well as during pregnancy, breast- Breastfeeding - a personal choice   breast and are hypersensitive to its components. You can not combine the drug Meridia from the use of other psychotropic substances (hypnotics, sedatives, and so on).

Side effects of the observations of the doctors

Most doctors say that Meridia is effective enough (except Xenical for obesity drugs are no more severe) and well tolerated.

Side effects of the drug Meridia effects can be divided into two parts. The first part - minor side effects that may develop in the first month of taking the drug, and then they pass. These side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain Abdominal pain: Types and Symptoms , Headache, dizziness, insomnia and so on. These side effects are not pronounced and quickly pass.

But there are other side effects that led to the fact that the use of sibutramine was banned in several countries. It happened because of the side effects of the cardiovascular system. They really can be very serious. And if you compare the benefits of weight loss and damage caused by the circulatory system, and the question arises whether this drug is used at all?

So, Meridia can cause persistent elevation of blood pressure, which in turn can cause complications such as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Another serious complication can be heart rhythm disturbances, which manifests itself in the form of increased heart attacks and attacks of atrial fibrillation - frequent and erratic heartbeats. Such attacks can lead to the death of the patient. Those doctors who have seen these side effects have about the drug meridia negative opinion.

Yet Meridia is used, moreover, this drug is very popular. The saddest thing is that sometimes take it without a prescription, even despite the fact that the pharmacy requires a prescription to purchase it. This method may have the most serious consequences.

Galina Romanenko