What you should know about Meridia:

Meridia is a prescription weight-loss drug which contains the appetite suppressant sibutramine. Since being introduced to the U.S. Market in 1998 by Abbott Laboratories, Meridia has seen its popularity skyrocket. Within a year, Meridia’s manufacturers, Abbott Laboratories, saw its new diet drug prescribed nearly two million times. Global sales of the Meridia diet drug approached $200 million last year. Based on sales figures, it would appear that Meridia is a successful diet drug. However, recent events have cast substantial shadows on both the effectiveness of Meridia, and more significantly, on the safety of Meridia.
Meridia (sibutramine) was approved by the FDA in 1997 as a prescription-only weight loss supplement for obese patients with risk factors such as diabetes, high cholesterol and controlled blood pressure. Recently, a clinical study funded by Abbott Laboratories has concluded that the side effects of Meridia may actually increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. 

The drug came under FDA scrutiny after clinical trials suggested that Meridia can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular problems. In the wake of the study, called SCOUT, Sibutramine Cardiovascular Morbidity/Mortality Outcomes in Overweight or Obese Subjects at Risk of Cardiovascular Event, the FDA announced that they were reviewing potential heart problems from Meridia after SCOUT data suggested that side effects of the drug may cause users to suffer a higher number of cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, strokes, resuscitated cardiac arrest or death.  The European Union issued a Meridia recall in January.

Meridia Side Effects/Signs/Symptoms:

Recent research suggests that side effects of Meridia, a prescription weight loss drug, could increase the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening heart problems, including heart attacks, strokes and death.
The limited weight-loss benefits provided by Meridia may be outweighed by the increased risk of cardiovascular problems, leading to calls for a Meridia recall to be issued. Lawyers are considering the potential for Meridia lawsuits for individuals who have suffered a:

• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Death

Meridia in the news:

The SCOUT study was originally done in hopes of showing that weight loss through the use of Meridia actually lowered the risk of cardiovascular events; instead the preliminary data suggested that Meridia side effects actually increase the risk.
Researchers looked at 10,000 patients who were obese and over 55 years old with a history of heart disease or type 2 diabetes and other risk factors. In preliminary results reported to FDA in mid-November, researchers found that 11.4% of patients suffered Meridia heart problems, including heart attack, stroke, resuscitated cardiac arrest and death, compared to only 10% of patients given a placebo. The researchers reported that the result was higher than expected.
In December 2009, the consumer advocacy group, Public Citizen, petitioned FDA to recall Meridia due to the SCOUT trial findings. It is the second time the non-profit has asked FDA to take Meridia off shelves. The first petition, filed in 2002, was denied by FDA. The drug is listed as a “Do Not Use” drug on the Public Citizen’s “Worst Pills, Best Pills” list.

An independent advisory panel to the FDA will consider whether a recall of Meridia should be issued.

Other drug manufacturer cases
Gadolinium
Reglan
Levaquin
Steven's Johnson Syndrome
Avandia