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Meridia has now been associated with 29 deaths, including 19 due to adverse cardiovascular effects. The diet drug was first approved in 1997, one year after the FDA advisory committee voted 5-4 that the benefits of Meridia did not outweigh the risks. Meridia had received a review from an FDA medical officer concluding that a non-approval was recommended due to the significant increase in blood pressure and heart rate in many people.

Until this March, Meridia appeared to be a total success to Abbott Laboratories, the drug’s maker. Meridia is found in 70 countries and has been used by 8.5 million people worldwide. But the sales success of Meridia has turned into a safety question. After two cardiovascular deaths occurred in Italy, the use of Meridia was suspended so that a safety review could be performed. This Meridia suspension in Italy was the first country movement to investigate the safety of the weight loss pill that led to a Europe-wide review of the drug.

France and Great Britain have had a total of 103 serious Meridia side effects reported, including the deaths of two people in Great Britain. The worldwide reports of potentially life threatening adverse effects has prompted the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen to file a petition to the FDA for the immediate ban of Meridia. Abbott Laboratories continues to dispute Public Citizen’s petition, claiming the diet drug Meridia, despite any risk associated to the drug, is an overall aid to the risk that any obese person has.

Studies performed on the diet drug Meridia show that there is an average 6.5 lbs lost in a year’s time, and during the second year the majority of people regain the weight and gain the entire weight back if stopping drug use. While Abbott claims that any weight loss Meridia can provide an obese patient would be expected to decrease the risk of heart disease and death, Sidney Wolfe of Public Citizen claims, “There is no evidence that this drug has prolonged the life of a single patient, or reduced the risks of strokes or heart attacks tied to obesity,” (WebMD, 3-22-02).

Meridia Side Effects

The difference in reported adverse Meridia side effects verses the real number of Meridia side effects is estimated to be tenfold higher. The FDA is currently reviewing the safety implications that have been associated with Meridia in response to Public Citizen’s petition. Public Citizen has petitioned for the removal of four other FDA approved drugs since 1996 and three of the drugs ended up being banned and one severely restricted. The end of March introduced the first lawsuits against Abbott on behalf of Meridia patients.

"Study shows weight loss drugs ineffective when used alone"

Meridia is just one of two weight-loss drugs currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but some experts have questioned the drug''s effectiveness. Although the formula of improved diet and exercise is a known way to achieve weight lo...

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"OTC, Prescription or Herbal Supplements Can Cause Secondary Hypertension"

The August 2004 issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter discusses secondary hypertension, a less common high blood pressure that can occur and leave suddenly. People are surprised after years of following healthy diets, exercise and relaxation technique...

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"Meridia Still Available in the Absence of Safe, Effective Weight Loss Pills"

There are 120 million overweight or obese Americans, and this rate continues to escalate. Weight problems increase risk of cancers, diabetes, and heart disease, and over the past five years the number of Americans diagnosed with diabetes has increased ...

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Healthy Weight - Information on the latest in weight management. Includes interactive body mass index calculator to help evaluate health risk. Aimed at physicians and consumers.

Meridia - A brief overview of the benefits and dangers of the diet drug Meridia

Is Meridia Worth The Risk? -provides information on Meridia and identifies an individual''s legal rights

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