Weight Loss Pill Lawyer
Abbott Laboratories Voluntarily Withdraws Meridia Weight Loss Pill at FDA Request
It has become abundantly clear over the last two decades that not all prescription medication cleared for sale in the U.S. is safe to use. Abbott Laboratories’ recent voluntary withdrawal of their Meridia weight loss pill at the FDA’s request reinforces the dangers of some pharmaceuticals. On October 8, Abbott and the FDA notified healthcare providers and patients about Meridia side effects such as an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The FDA approved Meridia (sibutramine) in 1997 for weight loss and maintenance of weight loss in obese people as well as in certain overweight people with other risks for heart disease. However, after reviewing data from a clinical trial that examined the cardiovascular safety of sibutramine, the FDA requested market withdrawal after finding a 16 percent greater risk of serious heart events in patients taking the drug.
The FDA recommends that physicians stop prescribing Meridia to their patients, and patients are advised to stop taking this medication immediately and schedule an appointment with their doctor. The Meridia weight loss pill withdrawal is yet another in a series of examples that clearly indicate pharmaceutical companies’ failure to make sure their drugs are safe before offering them for sale. People injured by these dangerous drugs and the families of those killed often have no recourse but to contact a pharmaceutical lawyer. If you have suffered injury or a close family member has died from taking Meridia, the pharmaceutical lawyers at Richardson Richardson Boudreaux may be able to help. Call us today at 918-492-7674 for effective, experienced legal representation.
A History of Health Problems and Litigation with the Meridia Weight Loss Pill
In 2002, five years after FDA approval, pharmaceutical lawyers filed lawsuits against Abbott for patients suffering the very same Meridia side effects that prompted the recent withdrawal. In 2004, a motion for summary judgment granted on behalf of Abbott dismissed all plaintiff claims against the company. Two years later, in May 2006, the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed the multidistrict litigation court’s summary judgment ruling (Meridia Products Liability Litigation, Steering Committee, et al. v. Abbott Laboratories, et al., No. 04-4175, 6th Cir.), effectively ending the litigation. In other words, the ruling of this court prevented plaintiffs from receiving fair and just compensation for their injuries in spite of mounting evidence of the dangers of taking the Meridia weight loss pill.
Contact Our Experienced Oklahoma Pharmaceutical Lawyers
If you have suffered an injury from taking Meridia or another dangerous drug and you would like to speak with an experienced Oklahoma personal injury lawyer, contact us today at 918-492-7674 or 877-777-4539.. We are the largest plaintiffs’ law firm in Oklahoma, and we have won hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and settlements for our clients. We have the experience, staff and resources to handle large pharmaceutical litigation cases and bring in expert witnesses to maximize damage claims. Call us today for aggressive and effective legal representation!
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