Meridia Side Effects |
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| The
1998 FDA approval for Meridia weight loss pill was highly anticipated
since the fen phen recall left the diet drug market empty.
From the start, Meridia was associated with dangerous and potentially
life-threatening side effects, including cardiovascular
causes. In 1997, the FDA’s own advisory committee voted
5-4 against approval because they felt the side effects risks outweighed
the benefits. Meridia became widespread immediately, and after just
one year on the market nearly two million Meridia prescriptions
were written for the management of obesity. Meridia is now sold
in 70 countries and has been used by 8.5 million people worldwide
according to the diet drug’s manufacturer, Abbott
Laboratories. |
Abbott’s approach to
the sales of sibutramine, marketed under the name Meridia, began as
a preemptive strike to differentiate their product from fen phen,
claiming the two diet drugs are very different in nature. But as reports
of serious Meridia side effects and fatalities began to surface, people
were left wondering if this diet pill really is different. The 29
U.S. deaths linked to Meridia side effects led consumer advocacy group,
Public Citizen to file a petition to the FDA for the immediate ban
of Meridia. Currently, the FDA will now be considering Public Citizen’s
petition and determine if the Meridia side effects are acceptable
or if the safety issues outweigh the benefits.
If you have suffered side
effects due to the prescription diet drug Meridia, contact
a Meridia Side Effects Lawyer to learn about your rights. |
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The side effects that Meridia have been associated
to are serious and deadly. In Meridia’s side effects information
it warns patients about primary
pulmonary hypertension (PPH), which is a rare and sometimes
fatal disease. PPH causes high blood pressure in the lungs that
leads to a feeling of constant breathlessness with minimal exertion,
fatigue, dizzy spells, fainting, and chest pain, and there is no
known cause of PPH. Cardiac valve dysfunction, or heart valve disease
may also be a Meridia side effects risk. read
more about Meridia side effects! Meridia is a weight loss pill in the form of an oral
prescription medication meant to manage obesity. This weight loss
pill is indicated for people needing to lose 30 pounds or more along
with a reduced calorie diet. Meridia is supposed to work by affecting
appetite control centers in the brain to reduce food intake by increasing
satiety. This weight loss pill is not an appetite suppressant. Meridia
is available in three different strength pills, including a 5 mg,
10 mg, and 15 mg dosage. Recent Meridia Side Effects News
Ron C. Eddins Waters & Kraus 3219 McKinney Ave. Suite 3000 Dallas, TX 75204 DISCLAIMER: Please be aware that the transmission of an e-mail or telephone inquiry or any correspondence itself does not create an attorney-client relationship. Waters & Kraus cannot serve as your counsel in any matter unless you and our firm agree together in writing that we will do so. No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. Not certified by the Texas Board of Certification. |
| Interesting Meridia Facts - In 1997, prior to FDA approval, an FDA advisory committee voted 5-4 that the benefits of Meridia weight loss pill did not outweigh the side effects risks for potential heart problems. - Public Citizen obtained data through a Freedom of Information Act request that shows after Meridia was introduced in February 1998-September 30, 2001, there were almost 400 serious adverse side effects in Meridia patients. Nineteen of these were cardiac deaths, with 10 in people under the age of 50 and three in women under 30. - The average weight loss during one year on a standard dose of Meridia was only 6.5 pounds more than individuals taking a placebo. - According to Abbott Laboratories, Meridia is sold in 70 countries and has been used by 8.5 million people worldwide. - In the U.S., there have been 29 deaths
linked to Meridia side effects. |
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| Be wary of what drug companies promise January 3, 2001, ABC News |