Drug Injury

Representing the injured, the wronged and their families

Meridia®

Do not discontinue taking any medications without first consulting your physician.

Meridia® Risks vs. Benefits
Meridia® was another heavily promoted weight loss drug that failed to meet expectations and potentially caused lingering heart problems with its users.

Meridia was marketed as a one-of-a-kind weight loss drug for long-term use, but it was only approved after much controversy and delay within the FDA’s review period. From its introduction in 1998 to a report in March 2003, Meridia was linked to at least 49 cardiovascular deaths.

What is Meridia and how does it work?
Meridia is the prescription-only weight loss drug sibutramine, an amphetamine stimulant that curbs hunger pangs. It is one of only two FDA-approved weight loss drugs that are prescribed to seriously obese individuals under strict physician monitoring. Like many other diet pills, it affects the metabolism and serotonin levels in the brain. By slowing the body’s dissipation of the serotonin it naturally produces, the brain tells the body it isn’t hungry.

What makes Meridia hazardous?
Most drugs have potentially dangerous side effects, but the benefits are seen as outweighing the risks. Like most drugs, Meridia came to the market with known side effects. After three years on the market, it became evident that the risks of these side effects might outweigh any weight loss benefits. Weight loss is considered just a side effect of all amphetamines. Their primary effect on the body is artificial stimulation of the central nervous system, which can pose an extreme cardiovascular threat for certain individuals. Meridia claimed to reduce hunger and increase energy, but studies revealed evidence of high blood pressure and erratic pulse rates with its use.

How many people suffered injury as a result of taking Meridia?
According to Public Citizen, the FDA’s own adverse event reporting system linked Meridia to over 500 serious adverse reactions between 1998 and March 2003. 49 have died from cardiovascular events. In Europe, the drug was recalled in Italy after two deaths were reported from sibutramine effects. In the UK , approximately 103 users suffered cardiovascular problems. Of those, two have died.

What are the benefits of Meridia use?
Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group who is trying to get the FDA to recall the drug, has publicized FDA reports that show only minimal effectiveness with Meridia use. Even after the FDA advisory committee approved the drug by a slight margin (five to four votes), they stated that the average weight loss in obese people taking the drug for one year was only 6 1/2 pounds in the group taking 10 mg of the drug.

What are some warning signs I should look for?
Your health is very important and should be your first concern. If you were prescribed and took Meridia for any period of time, you could have a serious health risk. Known serious side effects of Meridia may include:

• Increased blood pressure
• Irregular heartbeat (arrhythimias)
• Cardiac arrest & failure
• Heart attack
• Swelling of the feet, ankles or body
• Seizures
• Severe headache
• Skin rash
  

What is being done to protect Meridia users?
Since its approval in 1997, there has been additional controversy over balancing Meridia’s risks and benefits. By 1998, the FDA issued a warning to its manufacturer, Abbott Laboratories, stating their advertising was “misleading the public and burying the risks.”

In 2002, Italy ’s Health Ministry recalled Meridia from their market after two confirmed deaths were caused by sibutramine side effects. By March of 2002, Public Citizen sent a petition to the FDA asking for an American recall of the drug. By August of 2002, the FDA issued another warning letter to Abbott about their violations of federal rules on reporting side effects. And in September 2003, Public Citizen addressed the FDA yet again to alert the administration that the deaths linked to Meridia had reached an alarming 49 total cardiovascular deaths. Currently, the FDA is still taking the matter under consideration.


Do not discontinue taking any medications without first consulting your physician. This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute medical advice and should not be viewed as such. For medical advice, you should always consult with your physician.

Meridia® is a registered trademark of Abbott Laboratories. The reference to the registered trademarks of Abbott Laboratories is used here only for the purpose of identifying the product in question.

This law firm is not affiliated with, sponsored by or associated with Abbott Laboratories, the FDA, Public Citizen, or the Italian Health Ministry.

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