Reports have stated that from Canadian market, a generic version of the weight-loss drug Meridia will be pulled voluntarily.

The drug will be withdrawn by Apotex Inc., the maker of Apo-sibutramine.

After it was stated by regulators that the medicine led to an increase in heart attacks and strokes in people who had a history of heart disease, the brand-name version, Meridia, made by Abbott Laboratories, was withdrawn from the Canadian and U.S. markets.

It has been confirmed by Teva Canada Ltd., the maker of a second generic version called Novo-sibutramine, that that drug has not been marketed in Canada.

Regarding potential alternatives, health-care practitioner should be contacted by people taking any of the weight-loss drugs.

Over the years several warnings about the drug were issued, and it was stated in June that constipation, sleeping difficulty, increase in blood pressure and heart rate and a dry mouth can be caused by Meridia.

Despite being approved, the medicine is not recommended for people who have a heart problem as the medicine can only make things worse by escalating the problems.