Meridia, Alli and Xenical: Popular Diet Drugs in the Safety Spotlight

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 …

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Diet Drug Meridia Linked to Heart Attacks, Strokes, Cardiac Arrest

Meridia, a diet drug known generically as sibutramine hydrochloride, has been associated with increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, cardiac arrest, and other serious cardiovascular problems. The Abbott Laboratories drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1997 for use along with reduced-calorie diets to treat obese patients who have other risk factors, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.

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More Warnings Added to Diet Drug Meridia

New warnings of possible cardiovascular problems in some patients have been added to Meridia, the diet drug studies have recently linked to serious heart complications.

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U.S. Should Ban Diet Drug Meridia, Consumer Group Says

The weight-loss drug Meridia causes increased risks of heart-related complications in users and should be removed from the U.S. market, a leading consumer group told the Food and Drug Administration.

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Weight-Loss Drug Meridia Linked to Reports of Heart Complications, FDA Warns

The Food and Drug Administration said early results from a new study suggest patients taking the weight-management drug Meridia are at increased risk of suffering deadly heart attack, stroke, and cardiac arrest.

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