Meridia is a prescription medication intended to treat obesity. Patients who use Meridia should also follow an exercise and diet plan. However, Meridia should not be used for longer than two years, according to Drugs.com. Meridia may cause some side effects, such as flu symptoms, dizziness and insomnia. If you'd like to stop taking Meridia, talk to your doctor about keeping your weight under control when you're not on the medication. You may wish to take a different medication and make some healthy lifestyle changes.
Instructions
1. Switch to another prescription weight-management medication. Talk to your doctor about your options. According to Obesity News, studies in Europe have shown that patients who successfully lost weight while on Meridia gained back nearly all of the lost weight after they stopped using the drug.
2. Try switching to an over-the-counter weight-management medication after Meridia, if you wish to avoid prescriptions. Talk to your doctor about FDA-approved options, such as orlistat (brand name Alli). While Meridia acts upon certain chemicals in your body, orlistat prevents your body from absorbing all of the dietary fat you consume.
3. Join a weight-management support group. Encouragement and support from other people who are striving toward the same goals can help keep you on track. If you'd rather not join a group, try to find a "weight-loss buddy," one specific person for mutual support. Schedule a weekly meeting time with your buddy and share healthy recipes and tips for weight management.
4. Stay on track with an exercise program. Your weight-loss support group or buddy can help with this as well. Meet your buddy at the gym or play an active game together, such as tennis. The key to sticking to an exercise plan is variation. If you repeat the same exercises over and over again, you're likely to become bored. Try many different activities, such as jogging, swimming, jump rope, joining a martial-arts class or even jumping on a trampoline.
5. Work with a dietitian or your doctor to develop a healthy meal plan that you're likely to follow. In general, follow a low-fat, high-fiber diet. Stock up on vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean protein sources. But don't deprive yourself of sweets once in awhile either, as this may make you more likely to stray from your diet plan. Try to consume sugary foods in moderation only.
6. Consider bariatric surgery if you gain back the weight you lost with Meridia. There are several options that you can discuss with your doctor. For example, gastric banding entails wrapping a band around the upper portion of your stomach. This makes you feel full faster, which reduces the amount of food you are able to consume.
