To save you money, the pharmacy may give you generic Meridia. It will have the same medicinal qualities of the brand name weight loss aid. However, it will also have the potential to cause you high blood pressure that can lead to heart attack and stroke. In addition, it will still qualify as a controlled substance. In other words, you can become dependent on generic Meridia. If you go off the medication, the chances of your regaining all of the weight you have lost are great. If you are already taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression, you should never take generic Meridia. The two medications still will not mix. In truth, generic Meridia is the same, except that you are not paying for the name. The ingredients and the responses of your body to the drug will be the same.