Our law firm is currently investigating claims involving serious side effects and death involving the weight-loss drug Meridia®. Meridia® (also sibutramine) is a popular diet drug manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. It is sold as a capsule that is taken orally.
Prior to its approval in 1997, the FDA advisory committee had voted five to four that the benefits associated with Meridia® did not outweigh the risks associated with it. The reason given by the board was a significant elevation of both blood pressure and of heart rate in patients taking Meridia®. According to the French medical journal, Prescrire International, "Sibutramine... has amphetamine-like side effects." In later figures, the average weight-loss exhibited patients on Meridia® after one year was only 6.5 pounds (those taking the 10 mg dose) versus those taking placebo.
Between February 1998 and September 2001 the FDA had received 397 reports of serious adverse reactions to Meridia® with 29 deaths and 152 hospitalizations. In March of 2002 the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen submitted a petition to the FDA asking for Meridia® to be banned. In its findings since then, the group has found an additional 30 deaths attributable to Meridia®.
People Who Should not Take Meridia®
A person cannot take Meridia® if he or she is taking a prescription drug that falls in a group of drugs called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), which are used to treat depression or Parkinson's disease. Meridia® also cannot be taken if patients have anorexia nervosa, are taking other weight loss medications that act on the brain, or are sensitive to any of the ingredients of Meridia®.
Meridia® should not be used in patients with a history of coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, hypertension or stroke. This medication substantially increases blood pressure in some patients, which monitoring of blood pressure is required.
Common Side Effects of Meridia®
Common side effects of Meridia® include headache, dry mouth, anorexia, constipation, and insomnia. Meridia® is a controlled substance, which means it could result in dependency. Patients being treated with this medication should see their doctor for regular follow-up visits to monitor blood pressure and heart rate.
Health Concerns Regarding Meridia®
March 2002 - Public Citizen Group submitted a petition to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to which the FDA reports, asking that Meridia® be removed from the market because of doubts about its safety.
On May 21, 2002, Public Citizen released that it had examined the FDA inspection report of one of the Abbott factories. They claim to have found 1 death associated with Meridia® that had not been reported to the FDA and 7 other deaths were inaccurate or incompletely filed. They called for criminal charges to be pressed against Abbott for illegally withholding information regarding deaths and negative side effects of Meridia® patients. On July 19, 2002 the FDA issued a formal warning letter to Abbott, concerning delays in reporting adverse drug events.
On September 3, 2003, Public Citizen submitted an updated petition to the FDA, stating its position that Meridia® should be banned from the market. They updated the number of cardiovascular deaths among patients using Meridia® to 49.
If you believe that you or a relative were injured by taking Meridia® please use the form below to contact our law firm.
References:
Petition to FDA to ban the diet drug sibutramine, Public Citizen Health Research Group
"Meridia - Overview," FindLaw for the Public, December 2004.
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