Meridia, the brand name for the generic drug sibutramine, is used for weight control. Meridia is designed to affect the chemicals in the body related to weight maintenance and is used in the short term to supplement diet and exercise in the treatment of obesity. It is in the class of drugs known as monoamine (serotonin and norepinephrine) re-uptake inhibitors.
The drug also falls into the same class as many popular anti-depressants, such as Prozac. Meridia acts as an inhibitor of the re-absorption of serotonin so the signal in the brain will last longer, Serotonin is a chemical released in the brain once a meal is eaten that makes the person feel full. If this chemical is reabsorbed too quickly, the person feels hungry even though the body may still be full.
Abuses of Meridia
When taken as a weight loss medication, the tendency for abuse is very low with Meridia. In fact, health care professionals have had very little experience with the abuse, tolerance, dependence and even overdose of the drug. Even though Meridia does fall into the same class as certain anti-depressants, there is not a high tendency to use the drug for purposes beyond its original intent.
If an individual does develop a tolerance, however, and enters a cycle of consistently increasing the drug to achieve the desired effect, dependence is created and can impact the individual both physically and psychologically. Such dependence and abuse can wreak havoc on an individual’s health and care should be sought to reverse the problem.
Effects of Meridia
Patients take Meridia for its weight loss potential. In clinical studies, overweight patients taking the drug achieved five to ten percent weight loss. This success rate helps to draw additional users to the drug, increasing the amount of drugs prescribed and increases the potential for abuse in the market.
In some, Meridia has been reported to increase blood pressure. It can also cause a person to get dizzy or lose capacity in normal functioning. A person can experience difficulty concentrating or restlessness, which can be hazardous when engaging in certain activities.
Withdrawal of Meridia
As Meridia works on the brain much like anti-depressants, the body can get very used to having this drug in the system. Therefore, developing a craving for the drug is not out of the question. For those who develop such a craving or dependence, it can be difficult to stop taking the drug immediately.
Any and all of the following symptoms can occur in the Meridia withdrawal stage:
• Restlessness
• Tremor
• Nervousness
• Anxiety
• Mild headache
• Dizziness,
• Insomnia
• Dry mouth
• Unpleasant taste in the mouth
• Constipation
Treatment of Meridia Addiction
Individuals who develop a long-term mental and physical addiction to Meridia are likely to find it very difficult to stop taking the drug or to function normally without it. Detoxification is required to cleanse the body of this drug and must be done under the care of a board-certified physician and a board-certified psychiatrist.
A quality treatment center will suggest a comfortable detox method using withdrawal medications for Meridia abuse. A full physical on a person is necessary to determine the right medications for comfortable detox. This method helps to correct the chemical imbalances in the individual and should be combined with psychological evaluations and other medical care.