Meridia Lawyer: FDA Warns Heart Patients Against Use Of Meridia
The Food and Drug Administration asked the manufacturer of Meridia, Abbott Laboratories, to place a stronger warning on its label due to the results of a study indicating that people prescribed the drug experienced higher rates of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular problems than those on a placebo. The FDA advised that people with a history of heart attacks, strokes or high blood pressure should be warned against taking Meridia.
The European equivalent of the FDA went one step further and advised doctors and pharmacists to stop prescribing and dispensing Reductil and Ectiva, the European equivalents of Meridia. Abbott reacted by suspending sales in Europe.
Meridia is a diet drug that contains an ingredient called sibutramine. Sibutramine causes a person to feel full after eating, which in turn, should lead to reduced food intake. The data came from the Scout trial, which was comprised of a six-year study of about 10,000 people. The patients were overweight or obese and had a history of heart disease, diabetes, or both.
This is very serious. Anyone who is taking these drugs or knows someone who is needs to make sure whether they can remain on them or should stop taking them. Please feel free to contact me directly for more information or to ask questions.
