CardioExchange Archive

CardioExchange, an NEJM practice community for medical professionals dedicated to improving cardiac patient care, was active from 2009 to 2015. CardioExchange fostered discussion between clinicians from across the globe.

October 8th, 2010

Abbott Withdraws Sibutramine from U.S. Market

Abbott has pulled its weight-loss drug sibutramine (Meridia) from the U.S. market. A safety communication from the FDA said the “drug may pose unnecessary cardiovascular risks to patients.” Earlier this year the drug was withdrawn in Europe.

Sibutramine was approved by the FDA in 1997. The FDA recommendation is based upon a recent analysis of data from the Sibutramine Cardiovascular Outcomes (SCOUT) trial, in which patients taking sibutramine had a 16% increase in risk for cardiovascular events.

Categories: General, Prevention
Tags: , , , ,


You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

3 Responses to “Abbott Withdraws Sibutramine from U.S. Market”

  1. Rohan Parikh, M.B.B.S. says:
    October 9, 2010 at 10:02 am

    Are we left with any anti-obesity medication to treat the patients??

  2. H Robert Silverstein, MD says:
    October 10, 2010 at 3:59 pm

    Should Effexor and Savella be withdrawn, or all 3 left on the market. They have very similar biochemistry: and what of Wellbutrin/Provigil/Ritalin/Strattera: they are are all catechol releasors which is the probable mode of risk. H Robert Silverstein, MD

    Competing interests pertaining specifically to this post, comment, or both:
    no conflict

  3. farley araújo, student says:
    October 11, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    what´s the worst option: cardiovascular risks from obesity or from sibutramine? I think risks and benefits should be measured.

    Competing interests pertaining specifically to this post, comment, or both:
    none