Meridia is popular medication manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. About 8.6 million people worldwide have used Meridia. The FDA estimates that 20,000 prescriptions for Meridia are filled every week in the United States.
Meridia has been associated with at least 29 deaths in the U.S. A total of 397 serious adverse reactions were reported to the FDA, resulting in 152 patients being hospitalized. Of the 29 U.S. patients that died, 19 of the deaths were from cardiovascular causes such as heart attacks. Ten of the cardiac deaths occurred with people who were 50 or younger, including 3 women under the age of 30. There were also 143 patients in whom an arrhythmia was reported.
The first lawsuit on behalf of a Meridia diet medication patient was filed at the end of March 2002. This lawsuit and subsequent Meridia lawsuits, including more lawsuits filed in June and July 2002, named as defendants Abbott Laboratories. Patients who ingested Meridia and suffered adverse reactions or serious side effects may be eligible to file an individual law suit against Abbott Laboratories. Meridia has been associated with the following symptoms and side effects: increased blood pressure, heart disease, rapid heart rate, stroke, seizure, and mental impairments.