DIET DRUG MERIDIA PULLED FROM MARKET
The popular weight-loss drug Meridia was withdrawn from the market because it can increase the risk of heart attack and strokes, marking another setback in an ongoing struggle to fight the nation’s obesity epidemic.
Abbott Laboratories voluntarily agreed to pull the drug Friday October 7, 2010, under pressure from the Food and Drug Administration. A European study showed that Meridia users experienced a very modest weight loss, which did not outweigh a 16 percent increased risk for serious heart problems, including heart attacks, stroke, or death.
F.D.A. officials say the estimated 100,000 Americans using Meridia should stop taking the drug immediately and consult with their doctors. European regulators took the drug off the market in January. Abbott also announced plans to halt sales of Meridia in Canada and Australia.
In a related move, the FDA also warned consumers Friday about another weight-loss drug, Slimming Beauty Bitter Orange Slimming Capsules. The herbal product is sold over the internet and contains sibutramine, the same active ingredient as Meridia.