More on the subject: Group seeks Meridia ban -- themorningcall.com
A consumer group is petitioning the government to ban the weight loss pill Meridia because a recent study suggests it increases risk of heart attack, stroke and death.
A letter from Public Citizen calls on the Food and Drug Administration to pull Abbott Laboratories' drug from the U.S. market, where roughly a quarter-million people use it.
Preliminary results from a 10,000-patient study showed a slightly higher risk of heart-related problems in patients taking Meridia, also called sibutramine, compared with a dummy pill. Patients in the study were older than 55, overweight with a history of heart disease or diabetes.
Abbott said it has not reviewed Public Citizen's petition, but it said Meridia is only approved for patients who have no previous history of cardiovascular disease.