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Meridia
is used as an appetite suppressant. Meridia is used in conjunction
with an overall diet plan to reduce weight.
Directions
Take
Meridia on an empty stomach, once daily, 30-60 minutes before
breakfast. The full effect on weight may require four to
six weeks. Do not increase your dose, take Meridia more
frequently or use Meridia for a longer period of time than
prescribed because Meridia can be habit-forming. Also, if
used for a longer period of time, do not suddenly stop using
Meridia without your doctor's approval. Over time, Meridia
may not work as well as it did at the beginning. Consult
your doctor if weight increases.
Side Effects
Dry mouth, drowsiness, constipation
and difficulty sleeping may occur. If these effects persist
or worsen, notify your doctor promptly.
Precautions
Before using Meridia, tell your doctor your
entire medical history, including any allergies (especially
drug allergies), liver or kidney disease, high blood pressure
or heart disease, history of stroke or seizures, certain
eating disorders (e.g., anorexia nervosa), glaucoma (narrow
angle), or history of gallstones. Limit alcohol intake,
as it may worsen certain side effects of Meridia. It is
recommended that women of child-bearing age should use effective
birth control while taking this medication. Meridia is not
recommended for use during pregnancy. Consult your doctor
before using Meridia. It is not known whether this drug
is excreted into breast milk. Because of the potential risk
to the infant, breast-feeding while using Meridia is not
recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Elderly patients may be more sensitive to the effects of
this drug. Use cautiously.
Drug Interactions
Tell your doctor of all nonprescription and
prescription medication you may use, especially other weight
reducing agents (e.g., diethylpropion), drugs that can raise
blood pressure such as decongestants (e.g., pseudoephedrine,
phenylpropanolamine), cough suppressants (e.g., dextromethorphan),
antidepressants (e.g., nefazodone, fluoxetine, paroxetine,
sertraline, fluvoxamine, venlafaxine), lithium, psychiatric
medications (e.g., MAO Inhibitors such as selegiline, moclobemide,
furazolidone, phenelzine, tranylcypromine), drugs for migraines
(e.g., dihydroergotamine, sumatriptan), tryptophan, certain
narcotic pain relievers (e.g., meperidine, pentazocine,
fentanyl), ketoconazole, erythromycin, high blood pressure
medicine or any drugs which can cause drowsiness, including
certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), sedatives
and anti-seizure drugs. Antihistamines and decongestants
may be found in many nonprescription drugs for cough and
cold. Consult your pharmacist. MAO Inhibitors (see above)
and Meridia should not be taken together. If an MAO Inhibitor
or Meridia is stopped, wait 2 weeks before starting the
other drug.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of Meridia, take it as
soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next
dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing
schedule. Do not "double- up" the dose of Meridia to catch
up.
Storage
Store Meridia at room temperature between
59 and 86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and
moisture. Keep Meridia and all medications out of the reach
of children.
Notes
Do not share Meridia with others. Meridia
should be used in addition to a reduced calorie diet. Blood
pressure and pulse may be measured and laboratory tests
performed to monitor side effects.
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