Controversial diet drug approved
25 June 2008 | Author: Jen
Rimonabant is a controversial new diet/obesity drug which has now been approved for NHS use in England and Wales despite links to an increased risk of depression and suicide.
Rimonabant is already used by thousands of Britons, and, coupled with exercise, could help patients lose up to 10% of their body weight.
Although approved in the UK the US have yet to do so,due to the safety concerns of this drug.
Obesity specialists have however welcomed Rimonabant for those people who have tried everything else, including other drugs, with little success, who might benefit from it.
In July last year, the European Medicines Agency warned that Rimonabant may be unsafe for patients also taking anti-depressants, and NICE has echoed that advice.
Doctors have been told not to give it to patients with a history of major depression, and to be alert for new symptoms of depression in patients taking the drug.
Patients will not be allowed to have the drug, whose brand name is Acomplia on the NHS unless they have tried and failed using alternative drugs such as Orlistat.
Research has found that one in 10 people might develop mental side-effects including low mood and depression, anxiety, irritability, nervousness and sleep disorders.
However, taking it can not only lead to weight loss, but also improve general health, lowering blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
Dr David Haslam, the clinical director of the National Obesity Forum, said that he welcomed its approval for NHS use, and predicted that it would be prescribed to many patients.
“This is a very good drug, and there are very many people who have tried everything else, including other drugs, with little success, who might benefit from it.”
Rimonabant was first made available in the UK in 2006, and since then, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has received 720 reports of adverse drug reactions, covering 2,123 individual reactions.
Of these, 974 involved psychiatric disorders, including 48 reports involving suicidal thoughts, and a total of 93 involving depression.
A review of trial evidence published in the Lancet medical journal last year also found evidence that depression and anxiety were more likely in patients taking the drug.
Andrew Dillon, the chief executive of NICE, said: “The independent advisory committee recommended Rimonabant, along with diet and exercise, as a treatment option for adults who are obese or overweight.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 at 9:09 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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