Meridia (sibutramine) is intended for the treatment of obesity in people unable to fight their food cravings without special help. Its effects are based on interfering with the way your body processes signals sent from the brain. Take Meridia once a day unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Avoid taking it with alcohol, as this can worsen some of the side effects. Meridia is supposed to help you lose weight fast and efficiently – at least 4 pounds during the first 4 weeks of the treatment. If you lose less during this period, contact your doctor. There is no need to worry if you develop any of the following mild side effects, as they are most likely to go away on their own without any need for your doctor’s interference: weakness, back pain, flu-like symptoms, constipation, insomnia, headache, painful menstrual periods, dry mouth, flushing, nervousness, change in appetite, heartburn, or runny nose. More serious side effects are also likely and require immediate attention of your doctor. The following ones are sometimes reported: blood in your urine, easy bruising or bleeding, sweating, agitation, overactive reflexes, vomiting, shortness of breath, sweating, stiff muscles, flu symptoms, dangerously high blood pressure, high fever, weakness, anxiety, joint pain, seizure, and confusion. It’s important for your health care provider to know if you ever had or have at the moment history of gallstones, history of heart attack or stroke, depression, liver or kidney disease, underactive thyroid, seizures, heart disease, high blood pressure, glaucoma, or any bleeding disorder. Some of these conditions can make it impossible for you to safely take Meridia while others will require additional tests or a dose adjustment. Never combine Meridia with other diet pills, such as benzphetamine, methamphetamine, phendimetrazine, or phentermine, or life threatening effects may occur. Other drugs you are not supposed to combine with Meridia without your doctor’s consent include, but are not limited to: salicylate pain relievers, nausea medications, sedatives, delavirdine, heparin, amiodarone, tranquilizers, caffeine-containing products, metronidazole, high blood pressure meds, quinine, medications for allergies, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, cough and cold drugs, depression and anxiety meds, antifungals, danazol, sleeping pills, anticoagulants, muscle relaxants, drugs for migraine headaches, HIV protease inhibitors, cancer chemotherapy medications, seizure medications, and sulfa antibiotics.