Meridia was withdrawn from the U.S. market in October. Meridia affects chemicals in the brain that can affect weight maintenance. Meridia is used together with both diet and exercise for the treatment of diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. Never use Meridia if you have used MAO inhibitors in the previous 14 days, like furoxone, phenelzine. Life-threatening side effects can occur if you use Meridia before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.