Drugs On Review

What is Meridia?

Meridia is a trade name for sibutramine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor used to suppress appetite in cases of obesity. It was originally launched by Knoll Pharmaceuticals before being marketed by Abbott Laboratories. Meridia is chemically related to amphetamine although it has a different mechanism of action. The drug has been controversial since its introduction and was withdrawn in the United States and other major markets in 2010 after being associated with increased risk of cardiovascular incidents and strokes.

Meridia acts in the central nervous system by increasing the levels of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. This promotes a sense of satiety and sends a signal to stop eating.

What does Meridia look like?

Meridia was sold in a blue and white capsule with a strength of 10 mg and the imprint “Meridia 10” and a yellow and white capsule with a strength of 15 mg and the imprint “Meridia 15”.

Meridia dosing and administration

The recommended initial dosage of Meridia for appetite control in the loss or maintenance of weight is 10 mg once daily. This may be increased to 15 mg if insufficient weight has been lost after taking Meridia and eating a reduced diet for four weeks. If side effects become a problem with Meridia, your doctor may reduce your dosage to 5 mg once daily. Meridian may be taken with or without food. It should be combined with a low-calorie diet and is not intended to be used without a restriction of food intake.

Common adverse effects from Meridia

In clinical trials before the release of Meridia, the most common side effects were found to be headaches, anorexia, constipation, insomnia, stuffy or runny nose and sore throat. Less common side effects included back pain, fever, chills and muscle ache, weakness, abdominal pain, flushing, migraine, increased appetite, nausea, dyspepsia, joint pain, dizziness, nervousness, sinus infections, coughing, sweating, taste disturbances, painful menstrual periods and urinary tract infections. More serious side effects which occur less frequently include hypertension, tachycardia, palpitations, seizures, serotonin syndrome, unusual bleeding, gallstones, depression and anxiety.

Meridia warnings and precautions

You should tell your doctor before taking Meridia if you have hypertension, heart problems, a history of stroke, liver or kidney disease, glaucoma, epilepsy, any bleeding disorder, gallstones, depression, anorexia nervosa or bulimia, a history of substance abuse including alcohol or any allergies. You should inform your doctor if you are or may become pregnant or if you are breastfeeding. Serotonin syndrome is more likely to occur if meridian is taken with other medications which affect the serotonin system. These include SSRI antidepressants, some migraine medications and other drugs.

Interactions with Meridia

Meridia may interact with some antibiotics and antifungals, some pain medications such as tramadol and fentanyl, allergy medications, ergot-derived medications for migraine, lithium, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), other weight loss medications, SSRI or SNRI drugs including fluoxetine (Prozac) and Sertaline (Zoloft), St John’s wort, tricyclic antidepressants, triptans and tryptophan. A number of over-the-counter cough and cold medications may cause dangerous interactions with Meridia.