Meridia Information

The FDA has formally announced a Meridia recall at Abbot Laboratories. Meridia is an obesity drug, which in recent studies show that the drug can increase heart attacks and strokes in high-risk patients. In today’s world being thin and in shape is an obsession. It is everywhere you look; TV shows, movies, magazines and the list goes on. People want to achieve the thin look fast so some people often turn to weigh loss drugs but it is important to know the risks of taking these drugs. While Meridia may be a fat-fighting pill, but the price you pay might out weigh the results no pun intended.

 Who should take Meridia?

 People under the age of 18 should not take Meridia. Nor should it be taken if you have severe depression. Plenty of obese people struggle with depression but yet are still being prescribed Meridia by their physicians. Anyone with uncontrolled hypertension or existing heart damage or disease should not be given Meridia. And last but not least people who have medical concerns such as seizures, glaucoma, and enlarged prostate glands should not take Meridia. With all these stipulations one thinks how this drug made it past the FDA and into pharmacies.

Meridia studies:

A 5-year study shows that the average difference in body weight between people on Meridia and others on a placebo was about 2.5%, but there was also a 16% increase of non-fatal heart attacks and non-fatal storkes. The FDA did not approve of the risk-to-benefit ratio so they requested Abbot to “voluntary” recall Meridia.

The side effects of Meridia that some adults have encountered are jaudice, chest pains, edema, and abnormal vision. If you or someone you know has taken Meridia and are experiencing any of these side effects contact a lawyer today.

More Meridia Information

Abbott Laboratories agrees to withdraw its obesity drug Meridia

Abbott Laboratories has agreed to voluntarily withdraw its obesity drug Meridia (sibutramine) from the U.S. market because of clinical trial data indicating an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today.

What is Meridia?

Meridia is used together with diet and exercise to treat obesity that may be related to diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.

On October 8, 2010, Meridia (sibutramine) was withdrawn from the market due to the risk of serious cardiovascular events.

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Sibutramine is a medication that assists with weight-loss by altering neurotransmitters within the brain.