Belviq is a prescription weight-loss drug that is prescribed to people who struggle with their weight. The drug is intended to make patients feel full even though they are on low-calorie diets.
Belviq received FDA approval in 2012 with a requirement that drugmaker Eisai performs a clinical trial to determine if the drug was safe and effective. However, the FDA recently became concerned about the data it received. It has reported the drug could be connected to various kinds of cancer, including in the lung, pancreas, and colon.
If you took Belviq and have developed severe side effects such as cancer, it is important to speak to a Belviq cancer attorney today to determine if you can take legal action to be compensated for your injuries.
What Is Belviq and How Does It Work?
The drug works by controlling your appetite. Specifically, it activates brain sensors for serotonin, a neurotransmitter that triggers a feeling of fullness and satisfaction. (Time.com).
Serotonin is involved in our moods; many antidepressants work by stopping the reuptake of serotonin and keeping key brain receptors immersed in the chemical. Researchers claim that Belviq is made to only affect serotonin receptors that relate to appetite.
Clinical trial data show that people who use the drug lost a minimum of 5% of their starting body weight over a year. For superior results, dieters were recommended to use the drug with a healthy diet and regular exercise regimen.
Is Belviq Dangerous?
While Belviq has shown some promise for overweight people, there is a potential dark side to the drug. FDA requested recently that Eisai Inc. pull Belviq from the American market because of the drug’s possible ties to cancer. (FDA.gov)
FDA noted in a press release there could be a possible increased risk of cancer by taking Belviq. It stated that the drug manufacturer was required to perform a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the risk of cardiac problems.
In the trial of 12,000 patients over 60 months, more patients taking Belviq were diagnosed with several forms of cancer compared to patients who took a placebo.
FDA also advised patients to stop taking the drug and talk to their doctors about alternatives for weight loss. (WebMD.com)
Serious Side Effects of Belviq
In addition to a possible higher risk of lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer, Belviq is associated with the following side effects: (Rxlist.com)
- Low blood sugar
- Mental problems
- Slow heartbeat
- Rash
- Constipation
- Painful erections
- Urinary tract infections
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Does Belviq Cause Cancer?
FDA research found enough evidence of a connection between taking Belviq and some types of cancer that they recommended the drug be pulled from the market.
However, regulators did not specify the level of risk associated with taking the drug. Results from their clinical trial showed the drug might be associated with a higher risk of tumors, but the exact reason is still unknown. (Everydayhealth.com)
If you have taken Belviq and were diagnosed with cancer, it is recommended to talk to a licensed personal injury attorney immediately.
How to File a Belviq Cancer Lawsuit
If you were diagnosed with lung, colorectal, or pancreatic cancer after you were prescribed Belviq, you might have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against the drug manufacturer.
Drug companies have a responsibility to ensure their drugs are safe and effective when taken as prescribed. If a drug manufacturer puts a drug on the market that increases cancer risk, they must be held accountable for the harm they caused you.
If you were prescribed Belviq and have been diagnosed with cancer, it is smart to talk to an experienced attorney to determine if you can file a lawsuit.
Your attorney will review your medical and personal history and may talk to your doctor to determine if your cancer may have been caused by Belviq. If it is possible, your personal injury attorney can work with you to file a lawsuit in your state or where you lived at the time you were taking the drug.
Compensation for Beviq Side Effects
A Belviq lawsuit may provide you compensation for:
- Past, current, and future medical costs
- Lost earnings – past, present and future
- Permanent disability
- Wrongful death, if you lost a loved one to cancer
Latest Belviq Cancer News
Below are some of the recent headlines about Belviq and cancer:
- FDA Warns Public to Stop Taking Belviq: FDA in February 2020 issued a Drug Safety Communication telling the maker to pull the drug from the American market after a clinical trial showed a higher risk of some cancers.
- Weight Loss Drug Linked to Cancer: When the risks that are associated with a drug are more than the benefits, it is necessary to pull the drug from the market. That is what happened this week with Belviq as the FDA found a possibly elevated risk of cancer associated with taking the drug. Eisai, Inc., the drug manufacturer, voluntarily pulled the drug for the market for the time being while it studies its options.
- Eisai Will Remove Belviq from US Shelves Voluntarily: When Esai bought the struggling obesity drug a few years ago, it knew it would need to do a lot of work on the underperforming drug. But now the drug’s evolution may be at an end.
- South Korean Regulator Pushed Recall Without Reviewing Safety Data: South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recommended pulling Belviq off the shelves because of possible cancer risks. But the South Korean regulator had not received any cancer cases in the country in its postmarketing surveillance.
Get Belviq Cancer Lawsuit Help
If you have been diagnosed with colorectal, lung, or pancreatic cancer and regularly took Belviq, please contact one of our Belviq cancer attorneys. They can review your case and determine if you may be eligible for compensation in a lawsuit against the drug manufacturer.
