For once, Indian Government has acted fast and has banned Sibutramine due to serious cardiovascular risks in users. We need a strict watchdog to take similar action on drugs that cause more side effects than actual effects.

Team@CMHF

After US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcement on October 8, Abbott Laboratories has withdrawn the obesity drug Sibutramine (Meridia) due to increased risk for stroke and myocardial infarction.

US FDA after study called the Sibutramine Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial (SCOUT), demonstrated an increase in the risk for serious cardiovascular events such as nonfatal heart attack, nonfatal stroke, the need for resuscitation after the heart stopped and death.

The FDA is advising physicians to stop prescribing Sibutramine and to take alternative weight-loss regimens.

Other weight losing drugs available are Phentermine and Diethylpropion. Orlistat is available in both an over-the-counter form and prescription form
There are no long-term consequences for patients who stop taking the drug and the cardiovascular events probably stem from Sibutramine increasing blood pressure and heart rate.
These adverse effects disappear once the drug is withdrawn.

http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/730515?src=cmemp