K.D.
Hi B.:
My sister-in-law has been on Meridia for about 9 months now and she loves it (so much so that she doesn't want to stop taking it!) although her Dr. wants her off now as it is my understanding that it can be bad for your heart. I know she has lost more than 50 pounds on it without excercise and said that she has so much more energy than she has ever had. I know that the Dr. moniters you while you are on it (i.e. weekly weight checks, etc.) so it seems like a safe alternative but I thnk its a little scary myself. She was told it increases your heart rate and so forth and that it is a similiar composition of the deadly drug Phen-phen that was pulled off the market years ago but safer. I did some research on it too when she first got on it and have not found anything bad about it yet but it is a farely new drug on the market too. I would discuss your concerns etc with your Doctor (I am not a Doctor) so I have no idea the side effects (short term or long term) but I would probobly find out if there are any long term side effects that he is aware of. I know my brother-in-law took one of the pills for some extra energy one day and he said he was bouncing off the walls - lol! Also, I know my sister-in-law has been looking into getting the pills on-line since her Dr. doesn't want her to be on it any longer (which I have told her is very unsafe)so I would also check with your Dr. to see why they suggest limiting the amount of time on it. Anyway, I hope this helps with your decision and please feel free to email me if you have nay more questions about it. Another thing my mom and sister have tried is the Nutri-System diet with great success too (both lost over 30 pounds in 3 months) without excercise as well.
Take care and good luck!
Kim R