In 2000, Americans spent $1.8 billion in diet pills. Despite a 95% weight loss failure, consumers anxiously awaited the next "miracle pill" for weight loss. Pharmaceutical companies have been able to capitalize on the large market of dieting Americans even despite the numerous deaths and serious adverse health conditions that resulted from the use of different weight loss solutions. In 1997, a breakthrough in weight loss pills, called fen phen was withdrawn from the market after an estimated 6-7 million Americans took the prescription drug. The drug was linked to serious and life-threatening conditions, including heart valve disease and primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH).

When Meridia was released following fen phen's ban, manufacturer Abbott Laboratories was quick to market the new weight loss drug as a preemptive strike against any diet drug skeptics by saying fen phen and Meridia were very different. The death of 29 Meridia patients and hundreds of serious Meridia side effects leave experts wondering if this could have been prevented. One year before the FDA approval of Meridia, the FDA advisory committee voted 5-4 that the health benefits of Meridia did not outweigh the serious risks. The FDA medical officer who reviewed Meridia recommended it not be approved because the research indicated the potential heart problems that now affect a growing number of Meridia patients.

In March, the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen filed a petition to the FDA asking Meridia to be immediately banned from the market. Public Citizen is also pushing for a raise in FDA standard for the approval of diet drugs and to require drug makers to show actual health benefits rather that relying on short-term studies. If you or a family member is suffering adverse health effects from Meridia, we have provided contact information as well as comprehensive information to better educate patients of the importance of better weight loss drug safety standards.

About Meridia
Since the introduction of Meridia there have been 29 deaths, including 19 due to adverse cardiovascular effects associated to the weight loss pill. First approved in 1997, one year after the FDA advisory committee voted 5-4 that the benefits of Meridia did not outweigh the risks Meridia is available in 70 countries and have been used by 8.5 million people worldwide. Meridia had received a review from an FDA medical officer concluding that a non-approval was recommended due to the significant increase in blood pressure and heart rate in many people. Despite the opposition from the FDA's own advisory committee and medical officer, Meridia is still being sold.
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Meridia Side Effects
Meridia has been associated to potentially fatal and serious conditions like primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), cardiac valve dysfunction, and heart valve disease. These serious Meridia side effects are listed on Abbott Laboratories' patient information. Since the FDA approval of Meridia, there have been 29 deaths and hundred of serious adverse reactions occur in Meridia patients. These adverse health effects that are being linked to the use of Meridia are serious and life threatening.
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Meridia . . .

Reporting Adverse Meridia Events
The FDA has a program for consumers to report serious reactions and problems with medical products, including Meridia weight loss pill side effects, called MedWatch. If you, or a family member, have suffered the serious and potentially deadly Meridia side effects, it is encouraged for you to report it to help prevent any unnecessary future health complications from occurring.
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