In February 2020, the manufacturer of the weight loss drug Belviq and Belviq XR issued a recall and pulled the drugs from the market at the request of the FDA. The FDA withdrawal request also advised patients to immediately stop taking the drug and dispose of the medication.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested the Belviq recall because a safety clinical trial shows an increased occurrence of cancer.
Belviq and Belviq XR are brand name versions for the popular weight-loss drug lorcaserin. In 2015 alone, over 600,000 prescriptions were filled. Lorcaserin, manufactured by Eisai, was approved in 2012 by the FDA. The FDA originally required that Eisai, the Japanaese drug-maker, to conduct a controlled clinical trial that tested for heart-related health problems.
Joe Lyon is a Cincinnati, Ohio Attorney reviewing drug-related cancer cases and Drug Recall Lawsuits. Plaintiffs nationwide should contact a pharmaceutical injury lawyer to discuss legal options.
Does Belviq Cause Cancer?
The Food and Drug Administration requested a recall in U.S. markets citing concerns over the drug’s link to cancer. Since 2012, researchers have studied the medication’s safety.
The FDA released the following statement: “More patients taking lorcaserin were diagnosed with cancer compared to patients taking a placebo.” They went on to say the risks of taking the drug outweigh the benefits, based on the study.
The agency said it’s possible that several kinds of cancers could be linked to Belviq use, they named the following cancer risks:
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
- Lung Cancer
Belviq Cancer Study
Researchers analyzed around 12,000 patients during a study that aimed to identify cardiac risks, and instead discovered a risk of cancer. The study concluded that patients taking Belviq had a higher cancer diagnosis rate than those who took a placebo.
About 7.7 percent of patients who took Belviq had a cancer diagnosis compared to 7.1 percent who were given a placebo. The FDA reported that the longer a patient was on the drug, the greater the risk of developing cancer.
Attorneys have argued that the company should have issued warnings about a cancer risk seeing as early lorcaserin studies performed on rats hinted that the drug might cause cancer. Prior to FDA approval, the manufacturer’s testing linked the drug to an increased rate of cancerous tumors in rats.
What Should Patients Do?
FDA officials recommended that people stop taking Belviq immediately, and find an alternative treatment with the help of a physician. The cancer news leaves some other weight management drugs as options, including: Qsymia (phentermine/topiramate), Contrave (bupropion/naltrexone), Saxenda (liraglutide) and orlistat (Xenical).
As of now, the agency is not recommending any cancer screening for patients who took the drug, though following the Belviq recall, patients are urged to speak to their prescribing doctors and consider speaking to a drug recall attorney.
Healthcare providers should stop prescribing Belviq, and should contact their patients regarding the drug recall.
How Does Belviq Work?
Belviq works to alter the brain’s chemical signals responsible for appetite and increases feelings of fullness to assist patient weight loss. The drug is meant to be used in combination with diet and exercise.
Belviq (lorcaserin) and XR (extended release) is sometimes prescribed to treat obesity linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. The medication does not treat underlying health conditions.
Belviq Cancer & Other Side Effects
The Belviq cancer risks at the moment may include an increased risk of developing lung cancer, colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer. Other serious side effects may include:
- Serotonin syndrome: due to excessive levels of serotonin.
- Cognitive impairment: memory loss, attention impairment, confusion, and sleepiness.
- Psychiatric disorders: hallucinations, euphoria and dissociation.
Belviq Cancer Lawsuits
Patients who took Belviq and developed cancer may be eligible to file a lawsuit. If you were diagnosed with pancreatic, colorectal, lung cancer, or another cancer, contact a drug injury lawyer.
Due to statute of limitations, it is important to act quickly and take legal action as soon as possible. In drug recall and pharmaceutical injury cases, The Lyon Firm works to seek the following damages:
- Medical expenses related to treatment
- Pain and suffering, both physical and emotional
- Loss of wages and loss of future earnings
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Other punitive damages
