[New York Times, September 2, 2010] In a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, the diet pill Meridia was shown to increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes for users.

The study had 9,804 participants, all of whom were either overweight or obese. Participants were given either the drug Meridia or a placebo. Those who received Meridia suffered 28 percent more heart attacks and 36 percent more strokes than those participants who received a placebo. However, there was no difference between the groups in the number of heart-related deaths. All of the participants in the study had a history of prior heart problems.

The study’s authors, three of whom are employees of Abbott Laboratories, the manufacturer of Meridia, concluded only that patients with heart problems should not use Meridia. However, the editors of the New England Journal of Medicine issued an editorial calling for the removal of Meridia from the market. Currently, the FDA has asked Abbott to include a warning on the label of Meridia advising patients with a history of cardiovascular problems to avoid the drug.

You can read the full story on the New York Times’ website.