Obesity drug withdrawn over heart attack, stroke risk
January 22nd, 2010 - 5:52 pm ICT by ANILondon, Jan 22 (ANI): A leading obesity drug is being suspended from use amid fears it increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has told doctors to stop prescribing sibutramine, marketed as Reductil, and review its use in patients already taking it.
MHRA has suspended the prescribing of Reductil following an European study of the drug.
The drug works by altering chemical messages to the brain which control cravings for food.
“Evidence suggests that there is an increased risk of non-fatal heart attacks and strokes with this medicine that outweigh the benefits of weight loss, which is modest and may not be sustained in the long term after stopping treatment,” the Scotsman quoted Dr June Raine, the director of Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines at the MHRA, as saying.
Raine said no new prescriptions should be issued and doctors should review the treatment of patients taking the drug.
“Pharmacists are asked to cease dispensing the medicine. People who are currently taking Reductil are advised to make a routine appointment with their doctor to discuss alternative measures to lose weight. There are no health implications if people wish to stop treatment before seeing their doctor,” Raine added. (ANI)
- Europe bans anti-obesity drug Reductil - Jan 26, 2010
- Weight loss pill linked to heart attacks, stroke risk - Jan 04, 2010
- Weight loss pill 'could be deadly' - Jan 17, 2010
- China bans 15 products over heart disease concern - Nov 01, 2010
- Consumers warned about herbal weight loss pill - Feb 03, 2011
- Aspirin safer than warfarin in preventing stroke: Study - May 03, 2012
- UK wants to offer new cancer drugs before clearances - Dec 05, 2011
- Combining two drugs treats blood pressure better - Jan 13, 2011
- Keller Rohrback investigates Abbot Laboratories regarding weight loss drug - Oct 10, 2010
- FDA Issues Warning About Diet Pill, Stating Risk Of Heart Ailment - Jan 23, 2010
- Keller Rohrback to continue investigation of Abbot Laboratories' weight loss drug Merida - Oct 10, 2010
- Britain may see 24-hour medicine vending machines - Jun 22, 2010
- Diabetes drug increases heart attack risks, say experts - Sep 06, 2010
- Binge drinking? Blame it on your genes - Mar 01, 2011
- Beware! Pain killers could spike your BP - Mar 21, 2012
Tags: alternative measures, chemical messages, fatal heart, health implications, healthcare products regulatory agency, heart attack, heart attacks, london jan, medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency, mhra, obesity drug, pharmacists, raine, reductil, risk management, routine appointment, scotsman, sibutramine, stroke risk, vigilance