Diet pill pulled from Canadian shelves
October 13, 2010
THE CANADIAN PRESS
A generic version of the weight-loss pill Meridia, recently pulled from pharmacy shelves because of adverse health risks, is also being withdrawn in Canada.
Abbott Laboratories withdrew Meridia (sibutramine) from the Canadian and U.S. markets Oct. 8 after health regulators said the drug increases the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients with a history of heart disease.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration scientists said they requested the withdrawal because Meridia's risks outweighed "the very modest weight loss that people achieve on this drug." On average, patients lost five pounds with the prescription medication.
On Wednesday, Health Canada announced that Apotex Inc. has voluntarily withdrawn Apo-sibutramine from the Canadian market.
Teva Canada Ltd., the manufacturer of a second generic version called Novo-sibutramine, has confirmed that it has not marketed its drug in Canada.
As with Meridia, patients currently taking Apo-sibutramine should contact their health-care practitioner regarding potential alternatives.
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