- This medication is best taken on an empty stomach one
hour before meals.
- Sustained-release or long acting products must be swallowed
whole. Crushing or chewing them will destroy the long action
and may cause increased side effects.
- As meridia may cause sleeplessness avoid taking it late
in the day.
- Do not increase your dose or take it more often than
prescribed because this Drug can be habit forming.
Also, if used for a longer period of time,
do not suddenly stop this medication without first consulting
your doctor. Meridia is usually taken for 8 to 12 weeks. Use
in combination with other appetite suppressant medicine is
generally not recommended. Consult your doctor before such
use.
Storage: Meridia must be
stored at room temperature below 77 degrees F (25 degrees
C) in a tightly-closed container, away from heat and light.
Do NOT store meridia in the bathroom, near
the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture
may cause the medicine to break down.
Do NOT keep outdated medicine past the expiration date.
Meridia should be kept out of children's
reach.
Missed dose: If you miss
a dose of meridia, take it as soon as possible. But do not
take 2 doses at once, doubling up of the medicine is a strict
No!
Duration of usage: Meridia
is meant for short-term use (8-12 weeks). Don’t think
that continuous use will increase the benefit of the pill
as your body starts to build up a resistance to the effects
of this medication after a few weeks of treatment. It is always
advised to take help from the pill but not to get addicted
to it.
Notes: Use Meridia with
caution if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure; it 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.
Important: If overdose is
suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency
room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include restlessness,
tremor, rapid breathing, confusion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
and stomach cramps.
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