From one of my newsletters / Meridia

U.S. FDA Refuses to Pull Abbott Obesity Drug WASHINGTON (Reuters) Aug 17 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration rejected a consumer group's petition to withdraw Abbott Laboratories Inc.'s obesity drug Meridia (sibutramine) but said it would continue to watch for safety problems, according to documents released on Wednesday. Consumer advocacy group Public Citizen had twice called on the agency to pull the drug from the market, citing deaths from cardiovascular problems in people using the drug. But the FDA concluded that "sibutramine's overall risk-benefit profile supports it remaining available as a prescription drug for the treatment of appropriately selected obese patients," wrote Steven Galson, head of the agency's drug division. Galson added that the agency had worked with Abbott to educate doctors about appropriate patients and to change the drug's label, adding the need to monitor patients' blood pressure. Meridia is an appetite suppressant approved in 72 countries to treat obese adults along with dieting, according to the FDA. It can cause side effects ranging from headaches and constipation to higher blood pressure and a faster heart rate. Public Citizen's Health Research Group Director Sidney Wolfe said the 50 heart-related deaths reported since the drug's approval still warrant its removal. While Meridia use has dropped, "many people are still getting this dangerous but not very effective drug," said Wolfe, whose group petitioned for the ban in 2002 and again in 2003. Abbott, in a statement, criticized Public Citizen's analysis and said Meridia had repeatedly been proven safe and effective. Long term effects of the drug on obesity-related death is still unknown, according to the drug's label. Meridia is one of five approved drugs that FDA veteran scientist David Graham said should be scrutinized when he spoke at a congressional hearing last year. On Wednesday, Graham said the FDA and the company were "relying on statistics" to keep the drug on the market. While studies show Meridia can help patients lose some pounds, the loss is not enough to improve patients' health, he said. "What's the health benefit of losing 15 pounds if you weigh 300 pounds? There is none," Graham said. Because of the side effects, he said a study he did three years ago showed most patients stayed on the drug for less than a month.

To be perfectly honest Darlene I think there have been tons of drugs with much worse possible side effects than Meridia which have been left on the market. It is puzzling why they keep going after that drug. It seems to be that some of this goes back to the thinking that all people need to do to lose weight is get off their rear ends and diet and exercise. Just my opinion.

I have no opinion one way or the other. I know years ago my doctor had me try it and it didn't work. I was just sharing something I received from on of my newsletters.... Darlene Wearing my new suit

I tried it too--clearly it didn't work for me or I woudn't have had surgery. I took it right after they pulled Phen-fen, which has worked great and if they hadn't discoverd the heart problem link--I would still be on it (phen-fen).