Stronger Drug Warning Label For Meridia Appetite Suppressant Drug

A stronger drug warning label for Meridia appetite suppressant drug is being urged by the FDA following review of raw data from a recent study. The obesity study indicates people with certain health problems who took the prescription drug, Meridia, had more heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular incidents than people getting a placebo.

Meanwhile on Thursday, the European Medicines Agency advised doctors and pharmacists to stop prescribing and dispensing European equivalents of Meridia.

It has been presumed that weight loss drugs could actually help reduce serious health problems such as heart disease. This study, known as the Scout study, is the first to actually test this presumption.

The FDA said the stronger drug warning label for Meridia appetite suppressant drug should indicate that the drug was not to be used by people who have a history of heart attacks or strokes, or who have uncontrolled high blood pressure.