Abbott Laboratories has voluntarily withdrawn weight loss drug Meridia (Sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate) from the U.S. Market at the ).   

The FDA approved Meridia as a weight loss drug in 1997.    In the thirteen years that Meridia has been marketed, over 3 million prescriptions have been filled. 

The FDA requested that Abbott withdraw the drug after a study conducted by SCOUT (the Sibutramine Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial) showed that the Meridia using patients in a trial demonstrated a substantial increase in the risk of serious heart events, including non-fatal heart attack, non-fatal stroke, the need to be resuscitated once the heart stopped, and death as compared to those using a placebo.  Despite these life threatening side effects, Meridia did not contain a black box warning patients of the potential risk.  

If you have been taking Meridia (sibutramine), the FDA recommends that you:

• Stop taking Meridia and talk to your healthcare professional about alternative weight loss and weight loss management programs;
• Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any concerns about Meridia;
• Contact your healthcare professional right away if you experience pain in your chest, heart palpitations, abnormal heart rate or rhythm, or other symptoms including dizziness and lightheadedness; and
• Report any side effects with Meridia to the FDA”s MedWatch program.

If you or a loved one has suffered from the side effects of Meridia (sibutramine), you may be eligible for compensation. Contact the defective drug attorneys at The Strom Law Firm, LLC today for a free consultation to discuss the facts of your case. We offer flexible appointment options.