Weight loss pill Meridia, distributed by Abbott Laboratories, has been alleged to cause an increase in the chances of heart attacks. A weight loss drug, Meridia, has been under the scanner since last year, when Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, demanded a recall of the drug.

An FDA review board is set to evaluate the weight loss pill and its effects on heart risk, before it can decide on the future of Meridia. European authorities, however, have already banned weight loss pill and recalled the entire supply of Meridia in January this year.

Meridia, alternatively known as sibutramine or Reductil, however, seemed to be the cause of heart stroke only in cases of patients who already had an underlying heart problem. Though non-fatal in essence, the weight loss pill did have a dangerous side effect, studies by the parent company revealed.

A clinical study of 10,744 obese people with some sort of underlying disease, either cardiovascular or type 2 diabetes was undertaken by researchers from Abbot in association with W. Philip T. James, MD, DSc, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Half of them were given Meridia for weight loss and the other half were placed on placebo.

The results of the study, which were published in the New England Medical Journal, show that around 4.1% of those taking Meridia suffered from non-fatal heart attack and 2.6% suffered heart stroke. In comparison, only 3.2% of those on placebo had non fatal heart attacks and 1.9% had heart strokes.

The editors of the Medical Journal claim that most people that are obese or overweight, actually have undiagnosed heart problems. The use of the weight loss pill Meridia, would hence be dangerous, considering that it has been found to cause heart stroke.

The FDA will take a final call and make its recommendations on September 15. Till then, the future of the weight loss pill Meridia in the US is unknown.