European authorities came up with tougher warnings, urging a halt to sales of an Abbott Laboratories Inc diet pill on Thursday, after concluding that it poses a severe risk for heart-related diseases.

The European Medicines Agency suggested doctors to stop prescribing medicines containing sibutramine, which are sold in the market under the names Reductil, Reduxade and Zelium in Europe and Meridia in the United States.

"Evidence suggests that there is an increased risk of non-fatal heart attacks and strokes with this medicine that outweighs the benefits of weight loss, which is modest and may not be sustained in the long term after stopping treatment", the U. K.'s Medical Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reveals in a news release.

The EMEA has cited that the drug poses far more hazards than benefits.

The FDA quoted to soon convene a public advisory committee meeting to accumulate outside input on whether more regulatory action was required, after extending his tough warning that the drug should not be consumed by patients possessing a history of cardiovascular disease.

People currently taking Reductil [Meridia], are advised to make a routine appointment with their doctor so as to have an alternative measures to lose weight. However, no health related complications are posed after the medicine is stopped.