Healthwise® News Release:
Meridia Withdrawn From Market

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOISE, Idaho, October 11, 2010—The obesity drug Meridia (sibutramine) is being withdrawn from the market because it may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

The maker of Meridia agreed to pull the drug at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA asked that the drug be withdrawn after reviewing results of a trial in Europe. The FDA says the risk of heart attack and stroke outweighs the benefit of modest weight loss.

The FDA advises doctors to stop prescribing Meridia. If you’ve been taking Meridia, stop taking it and talk to your doctor about other ways to help you lose weight.

Healthwise content currently notes that early studies linked sibutramine with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Note to clients: Healthwise will remove sibutramine from content for the 8.8 release. The medicine is mentioned in the following Healthwise content: Sibutramine for Obesity (aa51180), Obesity (hw252864), Obesity: Should I Take Weight-Loss Medicine (aa71898), and Binge Eating Disorder (hw266473).
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