Meridia is a prescription drug that can be used to help people lose weight and keep it off. It comes in the form of a capsule and is taken once a day. Meridia works by affecting certain brain chemicals, which promotes a sense of fullness. Although most people tolerate the medication well, there are possible side effects, such as headaches, constipation, and insomnia.
What Is Meridia?
Meridia® (sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate) is a prescription weight-loss medication. Not only is it approved to help people lose weight, but it is also approved to help people from regaining the weight they have lost.
It is made by Abbott Laboratories.
Meridia works by helping you to feel full more quickly. It acts in the brain, where it increases the levels of certain brain chemicals (including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine) in specific areas of the brain.
Meridia does not increase the production of brain chemicals. Instead, it prevents the “reuptake” of the chemicals. As a message travels down a nerve, it causes the end of the cell to release a brain chemical. The chemical enters the gap between the first nerve cell and the one next to it. When enough of the chemical reaches the second nerve cell, it activates receptors on the cell, and the message continues on its way. The first cell then quickly absorbs any of the extra chemical that remains in the gap between the cells, preventing the chemical from further activating the second cell. This is called “reuptake.”
Meridia helps to block the reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, so more of these chemicals remain in the space between the brain’s nerve cells. This gives the chemicals a better chance of activating the receptors on the next nerve cell. This action promotes a sense of fullness (the signal to stop eating). It does not suppress the appetite (the signal to start eating).
Effectiveness
Studies have shown that the drug helps people lose weight. After six months of taking Meridia while dieting, people lost up to 18 pounds, compared to just 2.9 pounds for people who were only dieting. The higher doses produced the greatest weight losses. Similar results were seen in a one-year study.
Clinical studies have also shown that Meridia can help people who have already lost weight to keep the weight off. In one study, up to 43 percent of people taking Meridia (plus dieting) were able to keep off at least 80 percent of their initial weight loss after two years, compared to only 3 percent of the people who were only dieting.
Side Effects
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Meridia. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
Source: http://weight-loss.emedtv.com/meridia/meridia.html
