Dear Curlyq,
I tried Meridia when it first came out it did nothing for me except constipate me really bad! In fact that slowed down weight loss because it seemed to make me become sluggish.
I know everyone disagrees about stimulants and yes they can become addicting but they seem to be the "only" med. that ever helped me in so many areas besides helping appetite control, I was alert, energetic, and happy. . . while taking them I was able to keep up with the rest of my world, because I have always been labeled as slow poke. Another interesting thing I had a normal wake sleep cycle probably because I was on a dosage and timing that did not interfer with sleep ability, it really sucks that my doctors can't understand how my quality of life was better with that kind of med. compared to what they have prescribed to me! After all their prescriptions can cause dangerous and even long term damaging side-effects. They'll give developing children ritalin (stimulant) but not me and yet my system responds the same way which brings me to the conclusion that though I've been diagnosed as mild bipolar I am very much "ADD"!!
But then what do I know? It is only "me" that mentally and physically feels the difference. Also Meridia did not have any stimulant quality at all, it is a waste of time and money(very expensive!) Take care and stay well.
"darkeyes"