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Meridia - Frequently Asked Questions
What is Meridia Diet Drug?
Meridia diet drug is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. Intended
for people for a weight loss of 30 pounds or more, Meridia is
yet another diet drug that has caused controversy due to the side
effects associated to the drug, which has accounted for at least
32 deaths that the company has admitted to. Meridia diet drug
has been considered to have minimal weight loss effects, averaging
just 6.5 pounds according to FDA studies.
Why did the FDA’s advisory committee vote against
the approval of Meridia?
One year before the FDA approved Meridia diet drug, its’
own advisory committee voted 5-4 against the action. The committee
felt that the risks of Meridia side effects outweighed the effectiveness
of the drug.
What deadly Meridia side effects have been reported?
Although Abbott Laboratories was quick to distinguish the safety
of Meridia diet drug from the previously recalled diet drug fen
phen, a high number of serious Meridia side effects were quickly
reported. From the time Abbott began to market Meridia in February
1998 to September 2001, there were 397 serious Meridia side effects
reported to the FDA. Discounting the high number of drug adverse
effects estimated to never be reported to begin with, the 397
Meridia side effects included 152 hospitalizations, 29 deaths,
and 143 reports of arrhythmia.
Why was a petition filed for a Meridia ban?
Public Citizen consumer group petitioned the FDA in March 2002
for the immediate ban of Meridia from the market. The consumer
group thinks the side effects associated to Meridia are costing
the lives and safety of dieters everywhere for minimal drug effectiveness.
Why did Public Citizen request criminal charges be brought
against Abbott?
After petitioning the FDA for the immediate ban of Meridia from
the market, Public Citizen sent a letter to the secretary of Department
of Health and Human Services calling for criminal charges against
Abbott Laboratories. The group’s actions came after finding
that a recent FDA inspection report of the Abbott Laboratories
plat in Abbott Park, Ill. showed that the adverse drug information
reported to FDA was either not accurate, not supported by source
data, or was missing additional information found in the source
data.
Do I have any legal rights for serious Meridia side effects
suffered?
Contact
us to confer with an experienced and knowledgeable Meridia
lawyer.
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