Meridia

Home

Written by admin

Wednesday, 25 March 2009 21:02

Meridia (sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate) is a prescription diet drug first marketed to the public in February 1998. Meridia works by altering brain chemistry to make the person using it feel full. One of the most heavily advertised drugs since its appearance on the market, it has been widely prescribed to induce and maintain weight loss. Since 1998 there have been approximately 400 adverse events reported to the FDA associated with the use of Meridia.

Prior to its approval for sale in the United States, clinical trials of the drug showed that it could have adverse effects on patients' heart rate and blood pressure. In fact, in October 1996, Knoll Pharmaceuticals, the company that created Meridia, withdrew its request for FDA approval of a 30mg dose of Meridia, because the drug induced heart complications. The FDA recommended that the company also withdraw their application for approval of 20mg doses. Despite these strong early warning signs the company proceeded to seek approval for and market 5mg, 10mg and 15mg doses of Meridia. Subsequent data shows that the average yearly weight loss for patients taking Meridia is only six and a half pounds greater than patients who don't take Meridia.

Of the approximately 400 adverse events associated with Meridia the company has acknowledged that approximately 32 involved the death of a Meridia user. Nineteen of them involved heart complications. Public Citizen, a national consumer advocacy group that is often the first to recognize when a prescription drug is too dangerous for public sale, has now petitioned the FDA to remove the drug from the market. The drug has already been removed from the market in Italy and is under investigation in France, Britain, and Canada.

Next >

Prescription Diet Drugs

Non-prescription Diet Drugs

Herbal Dietary Supplements

Useful Resources

Members Login