The weight loss drug Meridia is being pulled off the market in both Canada and the U.S., because of worries about the drug's links to side effects such as heart attacks and strokes.
Meridia, or sibutramine, was approved in Canada in December, 2000, and in 1997 in the U.S. Since then, both Health Canada and the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. have issued several warnings about the appetite suppressant.
The most recent research, released in November, found that patients with heart disease taking Meridia had an 11 per cent risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events. That compared to 10 per cent among those with heart disease taking a placebo.
Health Canada said in a statement Friday that Meridia's manufacturer Abbott Laboratories had decided to voluntarily withdraw the drug from Canada based on that data.
The health agency said it's important to note that Meridia was not recommended for use in patients with existing heart disease. But it said there have been worries about use of the drug in people with early forms of heart disease.
"…There continues to be concern of an increased risk of heart-related adverse events, particularly as people at risk of cardiovascular disease may not have symptoms. In light of this concern, and the accumulating scientific evidence on the safety and efficacy of Meridia, it has been determined that the benefits no longer outweigh the risks for this drug," the Health Canada statement read.
Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, medical director of Ottawa's Bariatric Medical Institute, says he's prescribed Meridia to about 50 patients, and while it wasn't a "magic bullet," a number of patients lost a significant amount of weight while on the drug.
"It's a shame that the drug which has been helpful for these patients is being recalled for all patients, not just those with pre-existing cardiovascular risks," he told CTV News.
Dr. David Lau, the president of Obesity Canada, say Meridia worked by boosting adrenaline levels, curbing overall appetite. He says the withdrawal is a pity since it leaves only one weight loss medication on the market in Canada: orlistat, sold as Xenical in Canada.
"Obesity is a huge problem. Many people have a great difficulty losing weight just through lifestyle. That's why medications can help some patients," he told CTV.
Abbott said in a statement that it recommends that Canadian patients taking Meridia discuss with their doctor alternatives for losing weight. "Patients who wish to stop treatment before seeing their doctor can do so at any time," it noted.
Patient and physician questions can be answered through the toll-free service number established by Abbott in Canada: 1-800-567-2226, or 514-832-7333.
Abbott and the FDA released a similar statement shortly after, announcing the withdrawl from Meridia in the U.S. The company said it was now in discussions about the fate of Meridia in other countries and expects those talks to end in the coming days.
Meridia was withdrawn by European regulators back in January.
The medication has drawn criticism from public safety advocates for years. Earlier this month, the editors of the New England Journal of Medicine called on the FDA to withdraw the pill.
"It is difficult to discern a credible rationale for keeping this medication on the market," the journal's editorial concluded.
Meridia was approved against the majority opinion of FDA's outside advisers, who highlighted the potential for heart problems.
