The medication Meridia is typically prescribed by doctors to treat obesity in patients over a long period of time. Meridia affects the parts of the brain that control one's appetite, and essentially makes a person feel full, or not hungry. Although Meridia is not an appetite suppressant, it is a controlled substance, so it can lead to drug dependency. Plus, although Meridia typically results in a 5% to 9% weight loss, it usually must be taken constantly, or at least for repeated cycles over time. There have drug interactions between Meridia and certain drugs that are commonly used to treat depression and/or Parkinson's Disease. Additionally, Meridia can substantially increase a person's blood pressure, which can have disastrous results for patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Due to these potentially serious side effects, there have been lawsuits regarding patients who have experienced major injuries or death as a direct result of taking Meridia.