MERIDIA
Company: Knoll Pharmaceutical
Approval Status: Approved November 1997
Treatment for: obesity
Areas: Endocrinology
| General Information | Side Effects | Mechanism of Action |
General Information
MERIDIA (sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate) has been approved for the management of obesity, including weight loss and maintenance of weight loss, when used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet.
Side Effects
Most side effects associated with MERIDIA are mild and transient in nature, including dry mouth, headache, constipation, and insomnia.
Mechanism of Action
MERIDIA works in a different manner than other prescription weight management medications. It is a neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitor that merely enhances the body's normal function. MERIDIA is not a releasing agent. It does not get inside the cells to boost the release of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin. Instead, as a reuptake inhibitor, MERIDIA works outside the cells to stop neurotransmitters from being reabsorbed. MERIDIA works by affecting natural chemicals in the brain involved in regulating appetite--allowing them to act longer. The appetite control center in the brain is believed to regulate the amount of food eaten through feelings of hunger and fullness.
The FDA drug information shown here is licensed from Thomson CenterWatch. The information provided here is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or pharmaceutical advice which should be sought from qualified medical and pharmaceutical advisers.
