Belviq

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC

Lorcaserin ball and stick model

Belviq(Lorcaserin) is a relatively new weight loss medication that was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) in June of 2012 as an a long term treatment for obesity or overweight status. The other new weight loss medication, Qsymia, was also approved by the USFDA around the same time in June of 2012.

Background

As the United States and the rest of the world fights an epidemic of obesity or being overweight, there has long been a need for medications that curb the appetite, stimulate metabolism and assist in patients efforts at losing weight under the supervision of a weight loss physician. See the main article diet pills.

Who is a candidate for Belviq?

You may be talk to your doctor about Belviq or Qsymia if you:

• 18 years or older
• Have a Body mass index of 30 or more
• Have a Body mass index of 27 or more and have one or more medical problems related to overweight status.

How Does Belviq Work?

Belviq(lorcaserin) works by activating a part of the mind that controls hunger called appetite center.

How is Belviq taken?

Belviq is a 10 mg tablet taken twice a day.

Clinical trials of Belviq

• Belviq was investigated or studied in three clinical trials that continued from 52 to 104 weeks with nearly 8,000 obese and overweight patients.

Amount of weight loss with Belviq

The mean weight decrease for patients taking Belviq ranged from 3 to 3.7 percent over those taking a placebo.

• in patients without type 2 diabetes, about 47 per-cent of patients lost at least 5 percent of their weight compared with 23 per hundred of patients treated with placebo.

Belviq should be ceased or stopped if a patient falls short or fails to lose 5 per hundred of their weight after 12 weeks of treatment,as it is improbable that continued treatment will be successful.

Recall of Belviq

Update:As of February 2020, Belviq is being withdrawn from the US market due to concerns about cancer.

Belviq (generic name: Lorcaserin) was a weight-loss drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise in adults. However, due to concerns regarding its safety, specifically an increased risk of cancer, it was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 2020.

Background

Belviq was initially approved by the FDA in 2012 as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adult patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m^2 or greater (obese), or 27 kg/m^2 or greater (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition.

Reason for Withdrawal

In January 2020, the FDA announced the preliminary results of a randomized clinical trial that suggested a possible increased risk of cancer with Belviq use. The trial was conducted in approximately 12,000 participants over 5 years. The purpose of the trial was to evaluate the risk of heart-related problems. However, while Belviq did not increase the risk of heart issues, the data showed a potential association with an increased risk of certain types of cancers.

In February 2020, based on a detailed analysis of the trial's data, the FDA concluded that the potential risk of cancer outweighed the benefits of Belviq and requested that the manufacturer, Eisai Inc., voluntarily withdraw the drug from the U.S. market. Eisai Inc. subsequently agreed and has since removed the drug from sale in the U.S.

Conclusion

The FDA recommended that individuals stop taking Belviq and talk to their healthcare professionals about alternative weight-management strategies and treatments. Those who have been taking Belviq should also be vigilant for any unusual symptoms and report them to their doctors, especially if they suspect any potential signs of cancer.

For healthcare professionals, the FDA advised them to stop prescribing and dispensing Belviq. It was also recommended to contact patients currently taking the drug to inform them of the increased risk of cancer and discuss alternative weight loss medications or weight management programs.

Belviq Resources
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