Pharmaceutical firms have been ordered to recall slimming capsules, including Meridia, which contain the substance sibutramine, within a month, after reports showed the weight-loss drug increases risks of cardiovascular disease, the Department of Health announced in a statement issued Saturday.The health department's announcement came after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week demanded Abbotte Laboratories to stop selling its sibutramine-based diet pill Meridia in North America, following the reports.
Sales of the drug have been suspended in the European Union.
Meridia is used in combination with a reduced calorie diet and exercise to help people lose weight and maintain their weight loss. It is in a class of medications called appetite suppressants which act on appetite control centers in the brain to decrease appetite.
In addition to the product recall, the authorities in Taiwan have also decided to annul the approval for 15 kinds of medications containing sibutramine, starting Oct. 11.
Besides Meridia, other sibutramine-based medications that have received regulatory approval include: Reductil, Sytramee, Losfat, Moi-Allison, Sibutil, Shapedesign and Controkilo.
According to statistics from Taiwan's health authorities, 302 people experienced discomfort after taking medications containing sibutramine. Of the cases, 115 were proven related to cardiovascular disease, but no death was reported.
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