Q. I take atenolol for high blood pressure. I would like to take something to help me lose weight, and I have seen that I can buy Meridia online.
When I looked for more information, I read it should not be taken if you have high blood pressure. Since I take atenolol, my blood pressure is under control. Does that mean it would be safe for me to take this weight loss pill?
A. Meridia (sibutramine) is a controlled prescription diet pill. It should only be taken under careful medical supervision, as there are a number of potentially serious side effects and drug interactions to watch out for.
Although there are Web sites that offer to sell Meridia without a prescription, this is a dangerous plan. Sites that sell controlled substances without requiring a bona fide prescription might have few scruples about selling you counterfeit medicine.
What is more, the FDA notified doctors in November, 2009, that it is evaluating whether Meridia puts patients at higher risk for heart attacks and strokes. Your doctor will know if your blood pressure is controlled well enough for this risk.
