Meridia is the brand name of the popular prescription diet drug sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate, which is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. Meridia is administered orally in capsules, and is the first serotonin reuptake inhibitor used for the treatment of obesity.

Meridia is an appetite suppressant. Appetite-suppressant medications promote weight loss by decreasing appetite or increasing the feeling of being full. These medications decrease appetite by increasing serotonin or catecholamine--two brain chemicals that affect mood and appetite.

Currently, most available weight-loss medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are for short-term use, meaning a few weeks or months. Meridia (sibutramine) is the only weight-loss medications approved for longer-term use in obese patients, although the safety and effectiveness of these drugs have not been established for use beyond one year.

In general Meridia is moderately effective, leading to an average weight loss of 5 to 22 pounds more than what would be expected with non-drug treatments. However, the response to these medications is based on each individual, and some people experience more weight loss than others.

Based on sales figures, it would appear that Meridia is a successful diet drug. However, recent events have cast substantial shadows on both the effectiveness of Meridia, and more significantly, on the safety of Meridia.