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Meridia or Sibutramine: Prescription Diet Pill
Posted on Nov 13th 2009 3:15PM by Vicki SalemiFiled Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products
This prescription diet pill Meridia (with a scientific name sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate) treats obesity by increasing satiety -- or the feeling of being full.This orally-administered drug is typically recommended to be used in combination with a healthy diet and exercise routine to treat excess weight that may be related to diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
As for its effectiveness? The jury is still out. According to Fred Vagnini, M.D., medical director of the Heart, Diabetes and Weight Loss Centers of New York and author of "The Weight Loss Plan for Beating Diabetes," Meridia is not as effective as one might originally think.
According to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2005, participants who received sibutramine and lifestyle modification lost more weight than taking the drug alone or doing behavior modification on its own. All subjects were prescribed a 1,200 to 1,500-calorie diet and the same exercise regime.
"Studies have not shown a real dramatic long-term weight loss with Meridia," Vagnini said. "I don't think it's that effective and it affects blood pressure."
For instance, Dr. Vagnini previously prescribed sibutramine in his practice for weight loss and mentions it was "not successful" in terms of weight loss. Furthermore, as shown in studies and indicated by the drug's manufacturer, sibutramine has been known to increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients. In placebo-controlled obesity studies, 5 to 20 mg daily dosages were associated with increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
According to the drug manufacturer, side effects from taking Meridia include increased blood pressure, dry mouth, upset stomach, constipation, nausea, memory loss and dizziness.
At That's Fit, we're committed to helping you get healthy, live well and be strong through healthy lifestyle choices including healthy diets and enough exercise.
As for its effectiveness? The jury is still out. According to Fred Vagnini, M.D., medical director of the Heart, Diabetes and Weight Loss Centers of New York and author of "The Weight Loss Plan for Beating Diabetes," Meridia is not as effective as one might originally think.
According to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2005, participants who received sibutramine and lifestyle modification lost more weight than taking the drug alone or doing behavior modification on its own. All subjects were prescribed a 1,200 to 1,500-calorie diet and the same exercise regime.
"Studies have not shown a real dramatic long-term weight loss with Meridia," Vagnini said. "I don't think it's that effective and it affects blood pressure."
For instance, Dr. Vagnini previously prescribed sibutramine in his practice for weight loss and mentions it was "not successful" in terms of weight loss. Furthermore, as shown in studies and indicated by the drug's manufacturer, sibutramine has been known to increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients. In placebo-controlled obesity studies, 5 to 20 mg daily dosages were associated with increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
According to the drug manufacturer, side effects from taking Meridia include increased blood pressure, dry mouth, upset stomach, constipation, nausea, memory loss and dizziness.
At That's Fit, we're committed to helping you get healthy, live well and be strong through healthy lifestyle choices including healthy diets and enough exercise.
