As weight loss increasingly has become a goal for a number of Americans, big business has taken advantage of this popular subject matter. By capitalizing on weight loss products ranging from exercise machines, to gym memberships, to surgical procedures, to supplement pills, large companies throughout the country have made it a priority to advertise to and reap the benefits of individuals’ good faith motivations to lose weight. Unfortunately, large profit companies typically consider their own monetary interests as a priority, rather than the health of the customers and clients who may choose to use such companies’ products.
The situation referred to above, in which large companies may fail to take the necessary safety precautions before marketing a product in order to gain profits, is precisely what happened with regard to the weight loss supplement, Meridia. Meridia (sibutramine hydrochloride) is a prescription only weight-loss supplement for obese patients with risk factors including diabetes, high cholesterol, and controlled blood pressure. The FDA approved Meridia in November of 1997. However, in January 2010, the FDA notified healthcare professionals of recent data that identified adverse cardiovascular risks linked to the use of Meridia, particularly for those patients with a history of cardiovascular disease.
Following this initial notification, on October 8, 2010 the FDA sent out notice that it was advising against any continued use of the drug Meridia. This warning followed additional recent studies linking the drug to life-threatening cardiovascular problems, including stroke, heart attack, and death.
Furthermore, in going beyond merely warning consumers of the life-threatening risks associated with Meridia, the FDA requested that the drug’s manufacturer, Abbott Laboratories, voluntarily recall Meridia from the United States market. This request was, in part, due to the severity of the risks associated with Meridia. Additionally, the FDA has stated that the risk for adverse cardiovascular side effects from Meridia outweighs the modest weight loss benefits associated with the drug. Thus, Abbott Laboratories, the drugs’ manufacturer, has agreed to refrain from marketing Meridia in the United States.
The drug is sold in 70 countries and it is estimated that 8.5 million people use Meridia worldwide. Therefore, several people have been exposed to Meridia’s adverse risks. Such serious side effects associated with Meridia should not be taken lightly. Large drug manufacturers should be punished for failing to test their products thoroughly enough to reveal any safety risks. Moreover, the FDA is also at fault for giving its approval to place the drug on the market. For thirteen years, Meridia has been accessible to vulnerable individuals who merely would like to better themselves and their quality of life by losing weight, due to the irresponsibility of large drug companies and the FDA. Such irresponsibility should not be rewarded by continued ability to market dangerous drugs. Rather, to prevent similar dangers from entering mainstream American consumers’ lives, drug companies need to be reprimanded severely enough in order to deter them from making similar mistakes, which jeopardize individuals’ health, in the future.
