Meridia
Diet Drug
Since being introduced to the
U.S. Market in 1998 by Abbott Laboratories,
Meridia diet drug has seen its popularity skyrocket.
Within a year, Meridia’s manufacturers, Abbott
Laboratories, saw its new diet drug prescribed
nearly 2 million times. Global sales of the
Meridia diet drug approached $200 million last
year. Based on sales figures, it would appear
that Meridia diet drug is successful. However,
recent events have cast substantial shadows
on both the effectiveness of Meridia, and more
significantly, on the safety of Meridia diet
drug.
On
March 8, 2002 the Italian Health Ministry suspended
the sales of Meridia diet drug (which is marketed
as Reductil overseas) after receiving 50 reports
of adverse reactions to the diet drug, including
2 deaths. The suspension of the Meridia diet
drug in Italy has other nation's regulatory
bodies, expressing concern about Meridia. On
March 19, 2002, the consumer advocacy group
Pubic Citizen filed a petition with the FDA
requesting a Meridia recall. In the petition,
Public Citizen described the diet drug as “unacceptably
dangerous,” citing the 397 serious adverse reactions
reported to the FDA, including 152 hospitalizations,
and 29 patient deaths. By early June, five
users of the diet drug have filed suit against
Abbot Laboratories over alleged Meridia side
effects including heart problems.
“Not only does this drug contribute
to major cardiovascular problems, but its effectiveness
in lowering obesity is meager. The FDA is aware
of this and must take it off the market.” (Public
Citizen, 3-19-02)
-Sidney Wolfe, Public Citizen
Director
The effectiveness of Meridia
diet drug is as questionable as its safety.
When the FDA approved Meridia in November 1997,
it stated that the average weight loss in Meridia
patients over the course of one year was only
6 1/2 pounds over the placebo group.
If you, or someone
you know, has taken the Meridia diet drug, contact
us and learn your legal rights! |
