Meridia (sibutramine) is a weight loss drug designed to control the chemicals in your brain which have to do with weight maintenance. The drug is used to treat obesity that may be related to diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. Studies have shown that dugs containing sibutramine such as Meridia increase the chances of heart attack or stroke. Meridia was removed from the U.S. market in October 2010 after the FDA requested the drug be removed. Abbott Laboratories the manufacturer of Meridia voluntarily stop marketing of Meridia in the United States in 2010.

The FDA recommended withdraw of the product based on data from the Sibutramine Cardiovascular Outcomes trial, which showed  16% increase in risk of a non-fatal heart attack, non-fatal stroke, resuscitation after cardiac arrest and cardiovascular death in patients treated with Meridia versus those taken placebos. 

The FDA concluded that the risks associated with Meridia didnt justify continued use because of minimal benefit. Therefore the risk was to great and the product was recalled. 

If your or a loved one has taking Meridia or a product containing sibutramine and suffered a heart attack or stoke, you have rights. Please give the Meridia lawyers at the Amarillo law office of Lovell, Lovell, Newsom & Isern, L.L.P a call at 806-373-1515 for a free case evaluation.