So far there has been one widely publicized death that has been attributed to Meridia by the victim's family.
Norma Moore started taking the drug to lose weight as she started her retirement from work. She wanted to be
an active retiree. Soon after starting Meridia, her daughter states Moore, 'was having problems breathing'.
Moore died two months later and her daughter blames the diet drug. (Source)
Reviews of Meridia
I've taken Meridia twice now. For 6 months in 1999, during which I lost 29
lbs (With almost no increase in exercise), and started taking it again
at the beginning of February this year.
During the time that I had stopped taking it (for financial reasons)
I gained 10 lbs back. In the two months since I started taking it again,
I've lost 15 lbs.
The only side effect I've encountered is a bit of dry mouth, but since
I was chronically bad at drinking water before, it's actually helped
remind me to get at least 62oz a day!
I am really happy with the results so far, as they have given me a boost to
actually start exercising (always one of my weakest points).
Previous to taking Meridia, I'd never taken any sort of diet drug before. I'd
tried WW a few times in the past and never been successful.
I think the best thing taking it has done for me is to help me realize what
an amazing quantity of food used to seem 'normal' to me. Even after I stopped
taking it, I was able to keep a much better eye on my portions, and get a
better feel for when I was actually done eating.
I tried Meridia for a little over a month. There are many pros and cons
concerning Meridia. It worked well for me during that 1st month. Lost around
8 pounds. I had no side effects until I started the 2nd month. I became so
moody and depressed. I had high and low mood swings and cring! So, I stopped
Meridia and within 2 days I was fine, my 'ol happy self again! But..... the
PRO is that it did work, in helping me control my eatting and to feel full,
I slept well, didnt feel wired and no headaches (like with most drugs) A CON
is the cost of Meridia... it is about 3.00 - 4.00 a pill. My 14 day supply
cost me 58.00 and I checked with CVS, WalMart and my local drug stores and
that was the average price for a 2 week supply!
My wife has used Meridia and seemed to be getting good results at first.
She lost any appetite for food after a couple of bites. She had a very full
and satiated feeling.
Then she started becoming dizzy and disoriented. A couple of times she was
out driving and totally forgot where she was and where she was going. She
felt as if she was constantly impaired mentally. This frightened her so much
that she quit taking the drug immediately. It took over a week for these
side effects to totally go away! A horrible experience. Your results might
be different.
I have been on Meridia for about a week and all it seems like I want to
do is eat. I haven't seen any changes except this incease in appetite.
recently took Meridia for about 4 months. Lost about 7 percent of
body weight. Then couldn't lose more. Curious thing, though. It seemed to
help me sleep longer without waking up. (Typically, I don't sleep for more
than 1.5 to 2 hours without waking up). Needless to say, I was quite happy
about this, started taking it toward bedtime, and went to my sleep doctor
with the news.
Sleep doctor took me off Meridia, because he was concerned about the long
term side effects.
I started Meridia on March 9th. I was 277 pounds. Today, as of March
20, I weigh 270. I have not exercised other than taking the stairs
instead of the elevator each day since starting the medication and
using a bathroom on a different floor. Tonight, I start a low-impact
toning and stretching exercise class. I am not ready to bounce around
in an aerobics class at this size.
Did I change my diet? Yes. I cut out all the garbage and the fast
food. I eat breakfast, lunch, snack and then dinner. Before I go to
bed because I am trying to break the habit of eating after 8pm but
can't seem to let go just yet, I have two slices of white bread,
toasted, no margarine and low fat strawberry jam and a glass of warm
2% milk. This has helped. I am simply adding more fruits and
vegetables to my diet. And I force myself to drink water, which I
hate. But I'm doing it and the only reason why I'm doing this is
because I am angry at myself that I fucked myself up so much that I
HAVE to consider LIFE-ALTERING stomach surgery so I can be THIN, not
healthy. I don't believe having a 6-ounce stomach and the inability to
process food as HEALTHY but it’s a an alternative if this path I
am now taking fails.
I take 10mg each morning at 8am. The first three days were really
rough and it was tempting to stop. I was dizzy, extremely wired (DO
NOT DRINK COFFEE ON THIS MEDICATION if you are NOT a regular coffee
drinker) and very flatulent - thank god I am secluded at work in a
corner workstation).
By the end of week one, those side effects had stopped but then I
began developing headaches immediately centered above the eyes from
about 3pm to 7pm.
These are slowly going away.
As of today, I have noticed that my bowel movements are up to five a
day from my usual one and I don't know if this is the medication or
the water. But it's discomforting and distracting to go so much during
the day. Meridia states constipation as a possible side effect; I
don't have this problem.
Today was also the first day I weighed myself. I was surprised at the
loss because my clothes don't feel any different, so it can be mostly
water.
I do know that exercise will obtain the physical results I am looking
for so I will keep you all posted.
I am not as hungry throughout the day but I do fight those bedtime
cravings. I do have MORE energy and I AM happier and not as depressed.
So I do believe Meridia does have positive side effects.
Would I recommend it? Yes. If you are morbidly obese, a binge eater,
eat out of boredom or simply for something to do and lead a sedentary
lifestyle, Meridia may help. If you are 20 pounds overweight and at a
plateau, go on SLIM FAST. Meridia is not for you nor is it worth the
risks of side effects.
My heart rate and blood pressure are normal and were just as normal
before I started despite my weight. I have unique methods for
relieving stress. One involves laughing, the other involves various
online card games. And I don't take my work home with me - this was a
hard habit for me to break but I have slowly managed it.