Recommended dosage

The dose of Generic Meridia will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of Meridia. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The recommended starting dose of MERIDIA is 10 mg administered once daily with or without food. If there is inadequate weight loss, the dose may be titrated after 4 weeks to a total of 15 milligrams taken once daily. This is the maximum; if weight loss still fails to appear, Meridia will be discontinued. The 5 mg dose should be reserved for those patients that do not tolerate the 10 mg dose. Blood pressure and heart rate changes should betaken into consideration when making decisions regarding dose titration.

Take this medication as prescribed. Do not take it more often or longer than directed. Do not exceed the recommended dose without checking with your doctor. Exceeding the recommended dose or taking this medicine for longer than prescribed may cause serious Side Effects. Use of Meridia for longer than 2 years has not been studied.

As for children, use and dose must be determined by the doctor.

MISSED DOSE

If you miss a dose of Meridia (Reductil) and you remember it within 2 to 3 hours, take it as soon as you possible. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not "double- up" the dose to catch up. OVERDOSE

If overdose of Meridia (Sibutramine) is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include restlessness, tremor, rapid breathing, confusion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.

Although doctors have had little experience with overdoses of Meridia, increased heart rate and blood pressure are possible results.