Meridia is the brand name for the prescription drug sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate, which is used to treat obesity. Meridia works by making people feel full for a longer period of time after eating. By slowing down the reabsorption of two chemicals in the brain that make people feel full, Meridia effectives causes most people to lose 5 - 6% of their body weight in a fairly short period of time. However, Meridia must be taken consistently in order for the weight loss to be maintained. Although Meridia is one of only two drugs approved for long-term weight loss in the United States, there are a variety of medical conditions and medications that can interact with Meridia to cause negative side effects in people who take it. At least 29 people died from side effects of Meridia between 1998 and 2001, and at least one European country has suspended the use of Meridia altogether.