Meridia

Special warnings about Meridia

Use Meridia with caution if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure or are predisposed to bleeding; the drug could make the problem worse. Avoid Meridia completely if you've had a stroke or suffer from heart disease, heart failure, or irregular heartbeat. Also avoid it if you have severe kidney or liver problems; the drug has not been tested under these conditions. Seizures are a rare, but possible, side effect. If you've had seizures in the past, use Meridia with caution. If you have a seizure while taking the drug, stop using it and call your doctor immediately.

Any drug that acts on the nervous system can theoretically impair judgment, thinking, and motor skills. Meridia does not seem to have this effect, but caution is still in order until you know how the drug affects you.

If you have narrow-angle glaucoma or thyroid problems, make sure the doctor knows; Meridia should be used with caution in these circumstances. If you are prone to gallstones, be aware that weight loss can cause more of them to form. Meridia has not been tested in people under 16 years old. It should be used with caution in those over 65. Although it has been classified as a controlled substance (potentially subject to abuse), the possibility of developing physical or psychological dependence is low.

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Meridia

Remember that Meridia must never be taken within 2 weeks of using an MAO inhibitor such as Marplan, Nardil, or Parnate. The combination could lead to serious, even fatal, overstimulation.

Meridia may also interact with a wide variety of other prescription and over-the-counter drugs, especially weight-reducing agents, decongestants, antidepressants, allergy medications, and cough and cold remedies that contain ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. Among the many drugs that pose a potential problem are the following:

Alcohol (excessive amounts)
Blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin)
Dextromethorphan (found in many over-the-counter cough preparations)
Dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. Injection, Migranal Nasal Spray)
Drugs that affect platelet function
Erythromycin (Eryc, Ery-Tab, PCE)
Fentanyl (Duragesic)
Fluoxetine (Prozac)
Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
Meperidine (Demerol)
Naratriptan (Amerge)
Paroxetine (Paxil)
Pentazocine (Talwin NX, Talacen)
Sertraline (Zoloft)
Stimulants such as amphetamines, Dexedrine, Desoxyn, Adderall, Didrex, and Ionamin
Sumatriptan (Imitrex)
Tryptophan (L-Tryptophan)
Venlafaxine (Effexor)
Zolmitriptan (Zomig)