MERIDIA (sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate) has been approved for the management of obesity, including weight loss and maintenance of weight loss, when used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet.

Most side effects associated with MERIDIA are mild and transient in nature, including dry mouth, headache, constipation, and insomnia.

MERIDIA works in a different manner than other prescription weight management medications. It is a neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitor that merely enhances the body's normal function. MERIDIA is not a releasing agent. It does not get inside the cells to boost the release of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin. Instead, as a reuptake inhibitor, MERIDIA works outside the cells to stop neurotransmitters from being reabsorbed. MERIDIA works by affecting natural chemicals in the brain involved in regulating appetite--allowing them to act longer. The appetite control center in the brain is believed to regulate the amount of food eaten through feelings of hunger and fullness.