Attorneyatlaw.com

Diet drugs taken by millions of people looking to shed some extra pounds or stay thin after losing weight are now being investigated for causing heart attacks, strokes, and liver damage.

Meridia, a prescription drug used to treat obese patients who also have diabetes, high cholesterol, and other health risk factors, is now the focus of an FDA probe into a possible link to increased risks of cardiovascular injuries. Meanwhile, Alli and the related weight-loss drug Xenical have been associated with severe kidney damage in some users, prompting an FDA investigation.

Many users of these weight-management drugs who took the pills hoping to get back in shape or stay in shape after losing large amounts of weight have unfortunately been exposed to serious and life-threatening health complications.

Meridia

Meridia, also known in generic form as sibutramine, is made by Abbott Laboratories Inc. and was FDA approved in 1997 for treating obese patients. The prescription drug is used along with reduced-calorie diets in patients who have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 or a BMI of greater than 27 along with other risk factors, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.

Recently, the FDA ordered new warnings of possible cardiovascular problems be added to Meridia’s packaging to warn users of possibly serious heart complications. The agency required that Meridia carry warnings against using the drug in patients with a history of heart attack or coronary artery disease, irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia), congestive heart failure, and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Concerns about Meridia’s health risks also prompted the leading consumers’ watchdog group, Public Citizen, to ask the FDA to ban the drug.

Alli/Xenical

Alli and Xenical are two brands of diet drugs also facing increased scrutiny due to safety concerns. The FDA is now investigating at least 32 reports of liver failure in people who took Alli and the related drug, Xenical. Both drugs use the drug orlistat. Alli is the over-the-counter, lower-dose form of orlistat approved in the United States in 2007. Xenical, which is available only by prescription, contains a higher dose of orlistat and has been approved since 1999.

In six of the reported cases, orlistat users suffered liver failure, and in 27 cases, the patients had to be hospitalized for treatment of liver complications. Common symptoms of liver failure and liver disease include weakness, fatigue, stomach pain, and jaundice.

Alli and Xenical are used along with low-fat and reduced-calorie diets to help people keep weight off, but concerns about liver failure have prompted questions about their safety.

Related posts:

1. Orlistat (marketed as Alli and Xenical): Labeling Change Audience: Family Practice healthcare professionals, patients/consumers FDA notified healthcare professionals...
2. Diet Drug Meridia Linked to Heart Attacks, Strokes, Cardiac Arrest Meridia, a diet drug known generically as sibutramine hydrochloride, has...
3. More Warnings Added to Diet Drug Meridia New warnings of possible cardiovascular problems in some patients have...
4. FDA Warns of Counterfeit Alli Diet Pills Consumers are being warned about fake and potentially harmful versions...
5. U.S. Should Ban Diet Drug Meridia, Consumer Group Says The weight-loss drug Meridia causes increased risks of heart-related complications...

Permalink

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 at 1:21 pm and is filed under Dangerous Drugs, Meridia, Xenical/Alli (orlistat). You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.