Prescription Weight Loss Medicine (cont.)

Are There Other Precautions to Take When Using Xenical or Meridia?

• Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. If there is any part that you do not understand, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not take any more or less medicine than prescribed and do not take it more often than prescribed.
• If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is close to when you are scheduled to take your next dose, simply skip the missed dose and proceed with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
• These medications should be kept in their original container, tightly sealed and away from children.
• They should be stored at room temperature, away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom or near the kitchen sink).
• Any medication that is outdated or unused should be thrown away.

Taking these medications too often or in too large a quantity, or for longer than prescribed can lead to addiction or, in worst-case situations, an overdose. Symptoms of an overdose can include confusion, convulsions, hallucinations and coma. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately.

• A decrease in the ability to exercise
• Chest pain
• Swelling in the feet or lower legs
• Difficulty breathing

Reviewed by the Department of Nutrition Therapy at The Cleveland Clinic.

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Edited by Charlotte Grayson, MD, WebMD, August 2004.

Portions of this page © The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2004

Last Editorial Review: 7/14/2005