Meridia, The Diet Drug Is Pulled From Market

at 9:12 AM

Abbott labs announced recently that they are going to withdraw Meridia from the market because it can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.  They have been under pressure from the FDA but  they are doing this voluntarily right now.  Dr. John Jenkins at the FDA said that the risks of the drug far outweigh its modest benefits.

There are only 100,000 people currently take Meridia and the FDA said they should stop and talk to their physicians. This is the latest setback in the efforts to provide a safe medicine to treat obesity, one of the nation's largest health problems.  The FDA's actions stem from a clinical study that involved 100,000 patients.  In the trial the people who were on Meridia were 16%  more likely to have heart attacks, strokes and other major cardiac problems.

Although the company says, for the proper patient the drug is safe.  And as usual European regulators were quicker to respond and took the drug off the market last January.  On a good day, the FDA moves at the speed of a glacier. 

This withdrawal leaves Roche's Xenical as the only prescription drug approved for weight loss.  Tune in for the next study that shows Xenical is also causing major health problems!!

The best method (with no side effects such as early death, heart attacks or strokes) for weight loss is exercise and eating healthier.