Meridia Diet Pill

October 11, 2010

The weight-loss drug Meridia (sibutramine) has been recalled from the market by its manufacturer, Abbott Laboratories, at the request on Oct. 8, 2010, of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The results of a recent study show that the risks of taking the medication far outweigh its benefits, according to an FDA safety announcement.

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September 24, 2010

Earlier in 2010, Meridia updated its label after being required by the FDA to add the statement that the drug was not for use in patients with a history of the following conditions: coronary artery disease (heart attack or angina), stroke or transient ischemic attack, heart arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, peripheral artery disease and uncontrolled hypertension (a blood pressure reading greater than 145/90 mmHg).

Public Citizen consumer advocacy group petitioned the FDA for the immediate removal of Meridia diet pill from the U.S. market in March 2002. Calling Meridia "unacceptably dangerous" the group cited from the FDA database 29 Meridia deaths and 397 adverse Meridia side effects associated to the diet pill.

Recent Update: Diet Drug Meridia Recalled

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Patients on the prescription diet drug Meridia (sibutramine) should stop taking the medication according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the company that distributes it.  The seller of the drug, Abbott Laboratories, has issued a recall after being asked by the FDA on Oct. 8, 2010 to pull it off the market.

The recall is based on a research study showing a very poor risk-to-benefit ratio for the medication, which the FDA termed unacceptable. The drug carries an inordinately high risk of non-fatal heart attack and non-fatal stroke compared to its modest benefits.

The research, a five-year study by the Sibutramine Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial (SCOUT) showed that the average difference in body weight for patients on Meridia versus patients on a placebo was about 2.5 percent. This compared with a 16 percent risk of heart attack and stroke.

Maker of Meridia defends itself, saying that persons taking the drug are overweight and therefore already at high risk of heart attack and stroke.

Consumer Group Urges U.S. Officials to Bring Criminal Charges Against Meridia Manufacturer

When Meridia diet pill was FDA approved in 1997, the manufacturer pledged they would educate doctors and patients to use Meridia responsibly. Meridia was the first diet pill to follow the "breakthrough" diet pills Fen Phen and Redux that were banned after 6-7 million Americans took the dangerous drugs that caused life-threatening heart conditions like primary pulmonary hypertension.

Back in May 2002 Public Citizen consumer group urged U.S. officials to bring criminal charges against Meridia diet pill manufacturer Abbott Laboratories, alleging the pharmaceutical company withheld information from regulators regarding eight Meridia deaths in addition to other Meridia side effects.

Public Citizen's information was based off of a report from a recent FDA inspection of the pharmaceutical company's facilities that indicated Abbott did not report one death associated with Meridia diet pill and records regarding seven other Meridia deaths were inaccurate, unsupported, or incomplete, which is required by law. This information indicates that Abbott has been allowing Meridia patients to continue taking the diet pill while not allowing them complete access to the safety indications surrounding the drug. According to their 1997 "pledge" Abbott would not be consistent in their claims to educate Meridia doctors and patients by not allowing those very people to fully learn about their diet pill and its adverse effects.

This site has been built to better educate consumers everywhere of their rights regarding Meridia diet pills.




Actions Taken Against Meridia Diet Pill

After being introduced to the U.S. market in 1998, Meridia diet pill has been associated with 29 deaths and hundreds of serious adverse reactions . . . MORE

Diet Pill Developments

Even with the unfavorable press linking Meridia diet pill to cardiovascular problems, accounting for as many as 19 of the 29 Meridia deaths reported, companies are still moving ahead for the next "breakthrough" . . . MORE

    

Meridia Diet Pill Side Effects

The FDA medical officer that reviewed Meridia diet pill found that there were potential heart problems that were associated to the drug and did not want the diet pill to be approved . . . MORE

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Americans continue to fight weight problems that have cost Americans a hundred billion dollars last year in over-the-counter diet aids. Most remedies have ended in failure, allowing the search for the newest breakthrough in diet pills to continue. The first miracle diet pill Fen Phen was an initial success that ended up being a disaster with a high number of deaths and serious side effects, like Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. Meridia diet pill followed Fen Phen's enormous failure but is now under the spotlight after many critics claim it offers very little weight loss benefits in addition to the increased heart rates and blood pressure that have been associated to 28 U.S. Meridia deaths. These FDA approved diet pills shows that the future of weight loss does not rest safe even with a stamp from the FDA.