The fate of a popular weight loss drug in New Zealand should be known in the next few days after regulatory authorities in Australia stopped its marketing and distribution.

Pharmaceutical company Abbott on Friday announced it would immediately stop distribution in Australia of the drug sibutramine, which is sold under the brand name Reductil.

The move came after a review by Australia’s medical watchdog and research showed it could cause overweight people to suffer a heart attack or stroke.

Abbott announced it had voluntarily ceased marketing and distribution of sibutramine in Australia though it still believed the drug “had a positive benefit risk profile when used appropriately”.

No decision has yet been made about the drug’s future in New Zealand.

“Abbott is having ongoing discussions with regulatory authorities [Medsafe] in countries where sibutramine is marketed and anticipates concluding those discussions in the coming days,” spokeswoman Jennifer Stevensonsaid.

Australian patients taking Reductil have been advised to discuss an alternative with their doctor and doctors have been asked not to issue any new prescriptions for sibutramine, a company spokesperson said in a statement