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Abbott Laboratories, the manufacturer of the diet drug Meridia® has announced the voluntary withdrawal of the product due to concerns over an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. |
 Meridia®
Meridia® is used in combination with a reduced calorie diet and exercise to help people who are overweight lose weight and maintain their weight loss. Meridia® is in a class of medications called appetite suppressants. It works by acting on appetite control centers in the brain to decrease appetite.
Meridia®, distributed by Abbott Laboratories, has been alleged to cause an increase in the chances of heart attacks. Specifically, it has been reported that Meridia®, also known as sibutramine or Reductil, has caused heart stroke in patients already suffering from underlying heart problems. Meridia® has been under scrutiny since last year, when Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, demanded a recall of the drug.
According to a company-sponsored study, individuals who take Abbott’s weight loss pill Meridia® have a higher risk of nonfatal heart attack and stroke. When the FDA learned of the study results last January, Meridia use was restricted to patients without known heart problems.
In a recent editorial, the New England Journal of Medicine called Meridia® “another flawed diet pill.” They note that in return for offering a weight loss of under 9 pounds — less than 5% of the body weight of the overweight participants in the study — the drug had a one-in-70 chance of causing a heart attack or stroke.
People with underlying heart problems had an even higher one-in-52 risk of heart attack or stroke. And the New England Journal of Medicine editors note that many people who are overweight or obese have undiagnosed heart problems.
The FDA and Meridia®
Abbott resorted to this measure after being requested to do so by the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"). The FDA was prompted to take this drastic action after clinical trials demonstrated a link between the medication and the serious cardiovascular events.
“Physicians are advised to stop prescribing Meridia® to their patients, and patients should stop taking this medication. Patients should talk to their health care provider about alternative weight loss and weight loss maintenance programs.”
United States Food and Drug Administration, ("FDA") October 8, 2010
Meridia® was first approved as an obesity drug in 1997 for weight loss and maintenance of weight loss.
Act Now
If you or a loved on has suffered a heart attack or stroke after taking Meridia®, please call the Steinberg Law Firm P.C. at 888-529-4688 or email andrewsteinberg@lawyer.com for a free consultation.
Consult A Lawyer on Legal Issues
We encourage you to contact us at 888-529-4688
to discuss your Meridia® case with an experienced personal
injury and wrongful death attorney.
| » Fill out this form if you need additional information or want to discuss a potential claim with an attorney. All inquiries are kept strictly confidential. Please e-mail Andrew E. Steinberg* at: andrewsteinberg@lawyer.com for a free, confidential consultation, or call us at 888-529-4688. |
| » If the inquiry is accepted for further review, you will receive a prompt response (usually the same day or by the next business day). |
Consult A Doctor On Medical Issue
The Steinberg law firm does not intend, by this web site
or otherwise, to dissuade anyone from taking medication
without their doctors' approval. Please consult your
doctor, not your lawyer, on matters relating to your
health. It could be dangerous to stop taking medicines,
especially abruptly. Patients should talk to their physicians
to decide whether the benefits and risks of taking Meridia®
make it the right choice for them.
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