BELVIQ- Here we go! FDA approves new weight loss drug

ninerbuff
ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
The Food and Drug Administration has approved marketing of the weight-loss drug lorcaserin, the first prescription anti-obesity medication to win the FDA's blessing since the agency approved orlistat in 1999.

Once it is cleared by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the drug will be marketed in the United States under the commercial name Belviq.

The medication won marketing approval as a drug for "chronic weight management in adult patients" with a body mass index greater than 30, or for those with a BMI of 27 or above with a weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol or Type 2 diabetes.

The FDA's approval came with a significant warning to consumers likely to flock to a medication that could help boost their weight loss: The safety and effectiveness of Belviq when used alongside other diet medications has not been established.

Nor, the FDA said, has the effect of Belviq on the long-term risk of having, or dying from, a heart attack or stroke.

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-sci-obesity-drug-20120628,0,5990128.story
Like when ALLI came out, the demand will come. My concern as with ALLI is that people that really don't need to take the drug, will get hold of it for "instant gratification" of weight loss. I believe that the obese and those with diabetes who need help should definitely consider it if other avenues of weight loss aren't working, but the "shortcut" will be the more apparent reason that this drug will be talked about on the forums for awhile.


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Replies

  • BrettPGH
    BrettPGH Posts: 4,716 Member
    Well I know what threads we'll be seeing for the next few months... sigh.
  • Krizzle4Rizzle
    Krizzle4Rizzle Posts: 2,704 Member
    I heard a snipit about this on the news last night. I think you can only get it if you are obese and have another health related issue like diabetes or high blood pressure.
  • jnh17
    jnh17 Posts: 838 Member
    I wonder what makes it different from Phentermine?
  • SPNLuver83
    SPNLuver83 Posts: 2,050 Member
    I never tried ALLI.... A pill that gives you uncontrollable liquid farts? No thanks lol. I'm sure this one will have some awful side effects as well, as if the heart attack thing ain't bad enough!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    I heard a snipit about this on the news last night. I think you can only get it if you are obese and have another health related issue like diabetes or high blood pressure.
    You can get ANY drug without a prescription ONLINE. It's already available in many other countries since last year under the name of lorcaserin. It's only been APPROVED by the FDA as of yesterday.

    I'm ready to buy some stock in Arena.

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  • BrettPGH
    BrettPGH Posts: 4,716 Member
    Actually I'm sure that it works. If you follow the directions, which no doubt will recommend you also eat low calorie and exercise.
  • Speazzy
    Speazzy Posts: 79 Member
    I never tried ALLI.... A pill that gives you uncontrollable liquid farts? No thanks lol. I'm sure this one will have some awful side effects as well, as if the heart attack thing ain't bad enough!

    :laugh: I saw that too!! It scared the hell out of me...enough to never want to try it!
  • Actually I'm sure that it works. If you follow the directions, which no doubt will recommend you also eat low calorie and exercise.

    That was my thought exactly!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    I never tried ALLI.... A pill that gives you uncontrollable liquid farts? No thanks lol. I'm sure this one will have some awful side effects as well, as if the heart attack thing ain't bad enough!
    Sadly many DESPERATE people did, and still use ALLI to lose weight. I had a client (in VA) who used it and did it completely wrong. She didn't read the directions and didn't INTAKE fat. She didn't lose any fat and starting getting really fatigued. I told her to get off of it completely and just trust in herself. It took 8 months, but she lost 40lbs and kept it off as of now according to her FB.

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  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    I never tried ALLI.... A pill that gives you uncontrollable liquid farts? No thanks lol. I'm sure this one will have some awful side effects as well, as if the heart attack thing ain't bad enough!

    :laugh: I saw that too!! It scared the hell out of me...enough to never want to try it!
    Yet even with the warnings and only a "modest" weight loss, people who are desperate will try it. And of course those that do and get a little weight loss will RAVE at how good it is.

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  • Cwilbanks12105
    Cwilbanks12105 Posts: 99 Member
    Personally, the fact that the fda has approved something does not make me feel that it's safe. In fact, I tend to question it more. But yes, like others have stated, I'm pretty positive it's just going to be another, "Will work if used with proper diet and exercise."...Well, duh.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    Personally, the fact that the fda has approved something does not make me feel that it's safe. In fact, I tend to question it more. But yes, like others have stated, I'm pretty positive it's just going to be another, "Will work if used with proper diet and exercise."...Well, duh.
    The FDA usually makes decisions based on scientific study. The main problem I see is WHO did that study and were they funded by the corporation trying to get approval.

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  • lauralind5
    lauralind5 Posts: 133 Member
    Losing 8% of your body weight was considered "effective" REALLY !?!?!?! So people will be willing to take it, for an 8% body weight loss??
  • tomomatic
    tomomatic Posts: 1,794 Member
    Remember when the FDA approved a pain killer called Bextra and then discovered that it causes narrowing of the walls of the heart which can actually lead to holes in the heart?

    When it comes to pharmaceuticals, I feel that it's better to be a fast follower than on the cutting/bleeding edge.
  • Gwoman2012
    Gwoman2012 Posts: 163 Member
    The news article I read said that in the study the participants who took the placebo averaged about 5% loss following the same diet plan and the difference between the groups was VERY slight.
  • stfuriada
    stfuriada Posts: 445 Member
    Losing 8% of your body weight was considered "effective" REALLY !?!?!?! So people will be willing to take it, for an 8% body weight loss??

    If it were 8% BODY FAT, I'd be on it. But alas.
  • Krizzle4Rizzle
    Krizzle4Rizzle Posts: 2,704 Member
    I'm not really sure what this drug is supposed to do.
  • Oh yeah, FDA. A pill that can possibly make me die from a heart attack or stroke is totally safe. :noway:
    But, sadly, most people would overlook that warning and flock to it anyway.
  • MosierTim
    MosierTim Posts: 56 Member
    No pill in the world will ever replace Good nutrition and exercise! I am just saying!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    Losing 8% of your body weight was considered "effective" REALLY !?!?!?! So people will be willing to take it, for an 8% body weight loss??
    Desperate people will do just about anything. Justification is 8% is better than 5%.

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  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    The news article I read said that in the study the participants who took the placebo averaged about 5% loss following the same diet plan and the difference between the groups was VERY slight.
    The same with ALLI. But people don't believe it. They WANT a MAGIC PILL.

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  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    I'm not really sure what this drug is supposed to do.
    Reduce your appetite.

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  • mturgeon05
    mturgeon05 Posts: 204
    What is being said about it so far...

    “The approval of this drug, used responsibly in combination with a healthy diet and lifestyle, provides a treatment option for Americans who are obese or are overweight and have at least one weight-related comorbid condition,” said FDA’s drug center director, Dr. Janet Woodcock, in a statement.

    In a rare move, the FDA explicitly stated in a press release that Belviq “does not appear to activate” a chemical pathway that was linked to the heart problems seen with fen-phen.The FDA said the drug acts on a different chemical pathway in the brain, which is believed to reduce appetite by boosting feelings of satiety and fullness.


    **The FDA said patients should stop taking Belviq after three months if they fail to lose 5 percent of their body weight. Patients are unlikely to see any significant weight loss by staying with the drug.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    No pill in the world will ever replace Good nutrition and exercise! I am just saying!
    Crack and meth addicts would disagree!!!:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

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  • moxiecowgirl
    moxiecowgirl Posts: 291 Member
    http://ozarksfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=666272

    "Side effects from Belviq include serotonin syndrome - a potentially life-threatening drug reaction that causes the body to produce too much serotonin and causes symptoms of agitation, diarrhea, heavy sweating, fever, muscle spasms, tremors or mental health changes. People taking antidepressants or migraine drugs that increase serotonin levels may be at an increased risk for this side effect. The drug may also cause "disturbances in attention or memory," the FDA said."

    Oh boy...sounds like a bargain! Where can I get some? :noway:
  • Tanig32
    Tanig32 Posts: 110 Member
    I saw this on the news last night and it said in the animals that it was tested on some of them got brain and breast cancer, and a doctor on the program said the best way to lose weight is through diet and exercise not by taking weight loss pills.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    I saw this on the news last night and it said in the animals that it was tested on some of them got brain and breast cancer, and a doctor on the program said the best way to lose weight is through diet and exercise not by taking weight loss pills.
    But not many want to work hard to lose weight. It's evident by the ever increasing numbers in the overweight and obese in America.

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  • Blaqheart
    Blaqheart Posts: 235
    Personally, the fact that the fda has approved something does not make me feel that it's safe. In fact, I tend to question it more. But yes, like others have stated, I'm pretty positive it's just going to be another, "Will work if used with proper diet and exercise."...Well, duh.
    The FDA usually makes decisions based on scientific study. The main problem I see is WHO did that study and were they funded by the corporation trying to get approval.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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    Not true the fda does this for $$MONEY$$ and no other reason. The "studies" are done for short term so short that they have no idea years form now what the drugs do to your health. They are also published in part, anything negative is covered by publishing only the positive. The truth most of these "studies" are actually written by ghost writers and doctors whom had nothing to do with the studies simply sign their names to them! This is why prescrips are worth multi billions. Should the drug go wrong they simply get a hand slap, pay some fine, and continue to produce more bad drugs! Meanwhile you have to seek a lawyer to get some measly compensation. This is all avoided IF the drug companies were held fully responsible for the drugs and vaccines they produce. That is the actual job of fda yet they are paid off to look the other way.

    www.mercola.com

    Check out Dr. Mercola's site sad it's filled with countless fda approved drugs gone wrong.

    If the fda approved it be sure there is a paper trail miles long and it leads to many bank accounts!
    If they approve it I know it's not safe or works so I avoid it. Just say NO to drugs. I can and do. I don't even use anything otc let alone prescrip. There are plenty of all natural herbs out there that do work without crazy dangerous side effects.

    Your best bet is control your calories by burning more than you eat and get moving adding weights to your program. That's the secret - real consistent commitment and work. I'm hearing this over and over from friends who have lost weight, gained weight, and took back their health. It's working for me I am finally gaining weight and muscle.

    Remember You CAN do this!:drinker:
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    Personally, the fact that the fda has approved something does not make me feel that it's safe. In fact, I tend to question it more. But yes, like others have stated, I'm pretty positive it's just going to be another, "Will work if used with proper diet and exercise."...Well, duh.
    The FDA usually makes decisions based on scientific study. The main problem I see is WHO did that study and were they funded by the corporation trying to get approval.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    Not true the fda does this for $$MONEY$$ and no other reason. The "studies" are done for short term so short that they have no idea years form now what the drugs do to your health. They are also published in part, anything negative is covered by publishing only the positive. The truth most of these "studies" are actually written by ghost writers and doctors whom had nothing to do with the studies simply sign their names to them! This is why prescrips are worth multi billions. Should the drug go wrong they simply get a hand slap, pay some fine, and continue to produce more bad drugs! Meanwhile you have to seek a lawyer to get some measly compensation. This is all avoided IF the drug companies were held fully responsible for the drugs and vaccines they produce. That is the actual job of fda yet they are paid off to look the other way.

    www.mercola.com

    Check out Dr. Mercola's site sad it's filled with countless fda approved drugs gone wrong.

    If the fda approved it be sure there is a paper trail miles long and it leads to many bank accounts!
    If they approve it I know it's not safe or works so I avoid it. Just say NO to drugs. I can and do. I don't even use anything otc let alone prescrip. There are plenty of all natural herbs out there that do work without crazy dangerous side effects.

    Your best bet is control your calories by burning more than you eat and get moving adding weights to your program. That's the secret - real consistent commitment and work. I'm hearing this over and over from friends who have lost weight, gained weight, and took back their health. It's working for me I am finally gaining weight and muscle.

    Remember You CAN do this!:drinker:
    Well if you believe everything that Mercola says, then I could see your point. Personally I think Mercola is a quack.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    Oh, oh, it's magic, you know ♪