In 1997, Meridia was approved by the FDA. Meridia is a prescription weight loss drug that works by acting on the appetite control center in the brain. It affects chemicals in the body that are related to weight loss. Combined with a reduced calorie diet, Meridia can help obese individuals with a BMI (body mass index) of over 30 to lose weight, and keep the weight off. It is a prescription diet drug that's meant for short term use in the treatment of obesity.
The active ingredient of Meridia is Sibutramine (Sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate). It is an orally administered diet pill for the treatment of obesity. Sibutramine is a centrally acting stimulant chemically related to amphetamines that's classified as a schedule 4 controlled substance in the US. It's trade name is Meridia in the US, and Reductil in Europe.
Sibutramine is a neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitor that helps enhance satiety by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin (by 53%), norepinephrine (by 54%), and dopamine (by 16%)... It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 1997 for the treatment of obesity.- wikipedia
There are numerous studies documenting the weight loss effectiveness of Meridia (Reductil) when combined with a reduced calorie diet and exercise. We highlight several Meridia studies here.
Who Should Use Meridia (Reductil) Sibutramine
Meridia is recommended for individuals with body mass index of 30 or higher who are at higher health risks because of their weight problems. Meridia diet pill is also recommended for individuals with a body mass index of 27 or higher who have medical risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol levels.
You should not take Meridia weight loss drug if you have any of the following conditions:
Have a major eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa
Pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding an infant
Have high blood pressure (Meridia can substantially increase blood pressure)
Taking other weight loss pills that act on the brain such as phentermine, benzphetamine (Didrex), methamphetamine (Desoxyn), phendimetrazine (Adipost, Bontril)
Have allergic reactions to meridia or sibutramine
Have heart conditions such as prior heart attack, irregular heat beats, or coronary heart disease
Have severe liver or kidney disease
You should also not take meridia if you're taking MAOI prescriptions for depression or any other disorder
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking sibutramine.
you should know that sibutramine may make you drowsy and may affect your judgment, your ability to think, and your coordination. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this medication. Ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking sibutramine.
ask your doctor about drinking coffee, tea, or caffeinated beverages while taking sibutramine. Caffeine may make the side effects from sibutramine worse. Source: US National Library of Medicine
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a601110.html
Meridia Weight Loss, Diet, and Exercises
There are vast amounts of clinical studies documenting the weight loss effectiveness of Meridia Sibutramine when combined with a reduced calorie diet and regular exercising. With a weight loss target of losing one to two pounds per week, start off by reducing your daily caloric intake by 500 calories - one pound of fat is 3500 calories. You can discuss this with your physician to determine what will best suit your needs.
Along with a proper diet, performing physical activity regularly will provide numerous benefits to your weight loss efforts. Did you know that each pound of lean mass you gain will help you burn an extra 35 to 50 calories per day, without making any other changes. The increase in physical activity will not only help make your weight loss efforts more effective, it will also help keep that weight off.