Anyone heard of Meridia?

[Dani53]

I am not soliciting medical advice, but just looking for information. I have a friend who has lost a good amount of weight in the last 6 months or so, and she finally confessed that she is taking this. She is quite mum on the details, but my casual look on the net is confusing. I cannot find much bad about it, yet it is under investigation by the FDA (?) and online sites have suspended the sale of it.

I went to my nurse practioner yesterday, for unrelated reasons, and asked her briefly. She did not have much to say other than that she would never prescribe it (just in case she thought I was asking, I suppose- I wasn't), and that it is an antidepressant that can be addictive.

I am a bit worried about my friend. She is so embarrased to even tell anyone that she is really quiet about the details. She also doesn't want to be judged for her choice. This is a tough one for me. I don't want to think she is harming herself, and yet I can't find a lot about why it is bad.

I will only add that she looks terrific, which makes it even more difficult to tell her this is not the answer.

Opinions, advice, and links to anything showing the long term effects would be appreciated

 

[jillybean]

Someone step in if I'm wrong. Meridia was first used as an antidepressant. Soon, psychiatrists discovered that the patients who were prescribed this medication lost weight and had increased energy. My friend was on it for about 6 months and the doctor took her off. She is now in a well balanced exercise regimen, however, without the antidepressant effects, she is quite moody and depressed again…

 

[Dani53]

Did the weight come back on, or has she kept it off with proper diet and exercise? Did she have trouble getting off the meds?

I guess I want to know if it is physically addicting, or if it is just mental "I like what I see in the mirror, so I will keep taking it" kind of addicting. I like my coffee. I have my cup, or two, in the morning. I know caffeine is physically addicting, hence the headache if I miss my java, BUT I can and have quit without much trouble.

I will worry less if it that kind of addicting, but I will be so sad if she is taking a brain altering, hard to get off of, kind of pill.

Thanks for your input!!

 

[jillybean]

I think it's a what came first, the chicken or the egg thing because she gained some weight back but was it because, a.) she stopped the drug which made her lose weight, or b.) she stopped the drug with helped her with her depression. Once her depression came back, she became more lethargic (decreased workouts) and she was bored so she ate more.

 

[clareMc]

Dani:

addiction is not a problem with anti depresants, only with tranquilizers. What you could do to double check this is grab any book on treatments for depression in local bookstrore, read section on prescription drugs, and it will tell you all about it. Your friend may not want to share details simply because she feels acutely the social stigma of taking this type of medication anyway, to confessing to suffering a mental illness. If her doctor prescribes it for her, it is likely to not be addictive. You can hardly get any doctor to prescribe tranquilizers which are addictive today: a course of 15 pills is about all you'll get. Good doctors are on the lokout for these things. Also, do a web search for meridia on google, see what it says, and cross check sites.

Certain anti depresants are known to depress the appetite and lead to weight loss, such as wellbutrin, so such drugs are not recommended for people who have sufered anorexia in the past.

Clare

 

[clareMc]

Dani:

I jst read about it on "www.meridia.net" and based on what I read, I would not take it. it doesn't say it is an antidepressant: it is a prescriptive weight loss medication. i tmust not be used by those who have suffered anorexia or who take antidepressants of any kind. It can lead to hypertension and heart valve damage.

If it is under investugation by the FDA, I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

If your friend has already lost a good deal of weight and feels better about herself, now is the time for her tocome off it IMHO. She already knows about good ieating and exercise, presumably, so why does she still need it? Maybe you can help her see this and encourage her not to take a drug under investigation!

When did we ever read about a weight loss pill without severe health risks attached to it?

Clare

 

[Dani53]

Thanks so much Clare! I read all over that site, and checked into some other sites as well. I agree with the whole FDA investigation thing too. That makes me nervous....what I can't find out is why it was approved and now is being investigated. I guess I would just love to find something really tangible that I could share. She is already so quiet about taking them, I feel like I want to be really careful about how I caution her.....does that make sense. But I do really thank you and everyone for the input, and I will keep searching it out. We are getting together Saturday, so I have a bit of time to learn and think boldly