Does Reductil (Meridia) cause damage to the heart valves?
Certain weight loss drugs have been associated with cardiac valve dysfunction (heart valve disease). Patients in two studies were examined by doctors who used cardiac ultrasound testing to carefully look at heart valve structure and function. In one study, 25 patients were examined before treatment with Reductil (Meridia) and again after three months of treatment. None of the patients had heart valve disease. In another study, patients who had received either Reductil (Meridia) or placebo (sugar pills) for periods of two weeks to 16 months were examined. Three out of 132 patients (2.3%) who had taken Reductil (Meridia) and two out of 77 patients (2.6%) who had taken placebo were found to have heart valve disease. You should discuss this further with your doctor.
