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Article Summary: FDA safety officer Dr. David Graham listed Meridia among five potentially dangerous drugs
FDA Denies Bid To Ban Weight-Loss Drug Meridia
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has denied a consumer group's request to ban the Abbott Laboratories weight-loss drug Meridia (sibutramine), the Chicago Tribune reported.
Meridia Background:
Despite studies that have shown that the drug elevates blood pressure in some patients, the FDA found that Meridia's benefits continued to outweigh its risks, the newspaper reported. In lieu of the decision, the drug's maker pointed out that the medicine's risks are clearly spelled out on FDA-required labeling.
Nonetheless, the consumer group Public Citizen, which three years ago filed a complaint with the FDA that Meridia had contributed to dozens of deaths since its approval in 1997, condemned the agency's decision to allow the drug to stay on the market.
In a statement, Abbott said Meridia had been proven safe and effective "for people who need to lose 30 pounds or more depending on height and "when combined with diet and exercise," the Tribune reported.
FDA Safety List:
Last fall during hearings into the possible dangers of some pain drugs, FDA safety officer Dr. David Graham listed Meridia among five potentially dangerous drugs that the agency needed to review, the newspaper said. If you or anyone you know has taken Meridia and has experienced any negative symptoms or side-effects, please contact our expert lawyers and obtain a case evaluation at no cost to you..
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