Meridia Officially Off Market After Sibutramine Linked to Heart Attacks
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The list prescription that covers all manner of weight loss drugs looks set to dwindle again for patients seeking pharmaceutical help to banish obesity. Abbott Laboratories announced that it is voluntarily pulling off its promising drug Meridia from the U.S. pharmaceutical market amidst concerns of elevated heart disease side effects. The list prescription drug had been FDA approved for use in 1997.
Its decision corresponds with FDA recommendations and studies which show that sibutramine, an ingredient designed to affect brain chemicals to reduce appetite, is also responsible for conditions such as increased blood pressure, stroke and heart attack risks. The increased heart attack risk was assessed at a 16% increase compared to a placebo, according to a SCOUT (Sibutramine Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial) study. The study included 10,000 overweight and obese women.
Requirements for Weight-Loss Medication to be Added to an Approved List Prescription
In order to be considered effective, a pharmaceutical weight loss list prescription drug must produce a 5-10% overall reduction in body weight. Prescription of weight loss drugs are limited to patients with a BMI of 30 or higher. Although the drug has garnered a vocal, supportive following of fans across the nation, unfortunately, in Meridia’s case, the potential weight loss was not able to offset the increased risk to warrant use of the drug.
The FDA has also found that Slimming Beauty Capsules, sold and marketed as herbal medicine, contain sibutramine in amounts that often produce heart palpitations, increased blood pressure, anxiety and nausea.
As the list prescription for weight loss choices continues to wear down, patients have been opting for potentially dangerous natural supplements, which often contain controlled substances such as sibutramine.
