I am just finishing up day 9 on the weight loss drug, Meridia. I found out yesterday that my drug plan will cover it- because I have >40 BMI.
The biggest problem I am having is trouble sleeping. I cannot drink or eat caffeine in any form and I was worried when I started drug I might have a problem… I am. I have really not been sleeping at all. I just cant fall asleep and when I do i wake up about every 2 hours. Last night was one of the worst- i went to bed at midnight and fell asleep about 5:30 am. I woke up 2 or 3 times and slept until 10. I am in bad shape. I have not had a good night’s sleep since I started taking.
I hope it will wear off at some point because I don’t think i can continue like this. I do feel the drug is working. I am not over eating in any way and often forget to eat. I feel to “speedy: to eat. I don’t know if this is a good thing- but neither is weighing 300 lbs.
I also notice a somewhat dry mouth- but nothing I can’t live with.see doctore for checkup – blood pressue needs to be checked at 2 week point when taking Meridia and also will weigh myself. I am hoping to have lost 10+ lbs.

Hi- Day 6 taking the weight loss drug, Meridia.

I would LOVE to hear from others and their experience taking it. Some of the Reading I have done has been discouraging- some sites say 10% loss of body fat per year and others say about 5-6 lbs a year. Both numbers are discouraging. The cost is high–150.00 a month and some side effects. Possible side effects include higher blood pressure and increased heart rate . I will be checked in 2 weeks and the again at 4 weeks for that…

I have noticed quite nasty heartburn that has woken me up a couple of times. Also maybe bit of dry mouth- but nothing that horrible and raciness is bit better,. I have been waking up feeling great and feeling like I could do anything. Today I painted some built-ins in family that I have put off for 2 months now and feel like I have more energy in general- a definite plus!
Maybe its just co-incidence- but i do seem shorter tempered- I normally have a lot of patience but i have been feeling agitated. Could other things tho and not drug..

Today is Day 4 taking weight loss drug Meridia.

I have noticed a couple of side effects. I stopped drinking caffeine of ANY kind about 3 years ago because it made me feel so racy – even a small amount. I notice with the Meridia I feel that way for the first few hours after taking it. VERY speedy and almost euphoric- I know the Meridia works in a similar way to anti-depressants so this must be whats going on. This morning I threw open my closet in and effort to “dress-up” and put make-up on for the first time in months.
This might be because I am feeling good and having “hope” again but could also be the drug.

I have been feeling very lethargic the last few months and trouble getting up in the morning and just want to watch TV for the first part of the day and force myself to do things.
Yesterday I woke up and was scrubbing bathroom floors and misting curtains with lavender water before I had my first cup of tea.
I would say I definitely have more energy.

On the down side- I am noticing a problem with sleeping. I know some people have problem with insomnia on the drug. I am having trouble getting to sleep- I feel wide awake at nigh although I do fall asleep. I wake up 2 or 3 times in night and wake up early. I am also have weird dreams and don’t feel quite asleep. I am hoping that goes away.

I am sure I have lost weight- I had been sick last couple of weeks so that;s contributed to it but I also feel like have taken off some weight. I am at doctors next week and will weigh myself them I think I will have lost at least lbs in the week.

I have been eating normally and being conscious of glycemic index foods. We had whole wheat pasta with meat balls and whole grain baguette bread last night for dinner, for example.

I do noticed less of an appetite and easier to say no to problem foods. I don’t feel like am dieting at all.
I am having problems with understanding the GI ( Glycemic Index) diet and got another book, The GI Diet Revolution yesterday and will read this afternoon.

It really has been a year. I have neglected this blog- mainly because I have neglected myself as well. I just couldn’t face this blog because every time I came on it I was reminded of my failures.

I have re-newed hope this week. I started taking weight-loss drug, Meridia and beginning a low glycemic diet. After waiting 4 years ( yes 4!!!) to see obesity specialist I received letter in the mail to tell me the specialist has moved his practise.. then gave e the name of another, Dr.Sean Wharton. I saw dr. today and they faxed over referral and I HOPE to him in October. I know he really pushes Opti-fast ( a low carb liquid protein) diet that cost- get ready for this – 3500.00 for the program!!! Yikes.

He is also refers some of his patience to surgeons in New York… Gastric Bypass surgery seems so scary to me. I have been really looking into it this week- and I am not sure I am there yet. I am currently 313 lbs and a BMI of about 46.00. I am desperate- desperate not to get sick or die too early- but the thought of being so out of control that I need to remove part of a major organ is so frightening to me, I would like to try other avenues first. So will give this drug, the Meridia a try. I started taking today and bought a Glycemic Index diet book at Chapters today.
So many times when I start something new – it has lately seemed like the start of another failure. For this first time I have some hope. My doctor today told me that it is quite likely that my metabolism in screwed up for the 30+ years of dieting and this may help. I will post often about this. One of the main side effects to watch out for is higher blood pressure- so I go back every two weeks to check for first bit. My heart rate went up quite a bit today at pharmacist’s when I went to pay- 150.00 for one month! My health plan may cover- have to get prior authorization form filled out.