Q: What is Meridia used to treat?
A: Meridia is a prescription medication used for the long-term treatment of obesity.

Q: How does Meridia work?
A: Meridia works by affecting appetite control centers in the brain. It reduces food intake by increasing satiety, or feeling of fullness, but is not an appetite suppressant.

Q: What are common side effects of Meridia?
A: The most common side effects of Meridia include headache, dry mouth, anorexia, constipation and insomnia. Also, Meridia is a controlled substance, which means that abuse may lead to dependency.

Q: Who should not take Meridia?
A: An individual cannot take Meridia if he or she is taking a prescription medicine that falls in a group of drugs called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), which are sometimes used to treat depression or Parkinson's disease. Meridia also cannot be taken if patients have anorexia nervosa, are taking other weight loss medications that act on the brain, or are especially sensitive to any of the ingredients in Meridia. Meridia should not be used in patients with a history of coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, or stroke.

Q: What problems have been reported with respect to Meridia?
A: Meridia substantially increases blood pressure in some patients, and regular monitoring of blood pressure is required when taking Meridia. Meridia should be prescribed with caution to those patients with a history of hypertension, and should not be given to patients with uncontrolled or poorly controlled hypertension.

Q: Is Meridia effective?
A: The average weight loss from taking Meridia is reportedly 5-9%, within six months. But its manufacturer warns that obesity is a chronic condition and since weight is regained quickly when medication is withdrawn, most patients have to take Meridia permanently, either constantly or in cycles, to maintain weight loss.

Q: What if I think I have been injured as a result of taking Meridia?
A: If you have taken Meridia and experienced any unusual side effects, you should contact your physician at once. In addition, you might want to contact an attorney experienced in product liability litigation to discuss potential legal claims you might have to recover for injuries Meridia caused you, or a loved one.