A Belviq Lawsuit may apply to you or your loved one if the diet drug Belviq or Belviq XR was taken prior to a cancer diagnosis. An experienced Belviq lawyer will be able to assist in protecting your legal rights.
The Food and Drug Administration announced that the popular weight-loss drug Belviq (lorcaserin) would be pulled from the United States market as of February 2020. Researchers found increased reported cancer rates in people who took Belviq. FDA officials recommend that Belviq users immediately stop taking the medication.
What is Belviq and How Does it Work?
Belviq is a popular prescription weight-loss drug sold and produced by Eisai Inc. Belviq works by altering the brain chemical signals responsible for appetite. The drug is prescribed in combination with exercise and a healthy diet to help adults who are overweight or obese. The medication does not treat underlying health conditions.
What’s the difference between Belviq and Belviq XR?
Belviq is a 10 mg prescription tablet that patients take two times a day. Belviq XR is the extended-release form taken once daily.
Is Belviq Dangerous?
The FDA requested Belviq be pulled from the U.S. market because of the drug’s ties to increased cancer rates. FDA researchers conducted a study on the drug and found that approximately 7.7 percent of patients that took Belviq were diagnosed with cancer compared to 7.1 percent of placebo recipients. The FDA also found that the longer a patient was on Belviq, the greater his or her risk was of developing cancer. TruLaw recommends finding out if you qualify for a Belviq Lawsuit instantly using the Bevliq Case Qualification tool. A Belviq Lawyer may be able to assist with compensation for injuries and medical bills while protecting your legal rights.
Types of Cancers Tied to Belviq
The FDA reported increased rates of pancreatic, lung, and colorectal cancers in Belviq and Belviq XR users.
Does Belviq Cause Cancer?
In January, the FDA announced that Belviq and Belviq XR cancer risks were strong enough to call for the drugs’ removal from the U.S. market. The agency said it still cannot definitively conclude that Belviq and Belviq cause cancer. However, officials said the medications’ risks outweigh the benefits and that people taking Belviq should stop immediately.
Other Belviq Dangers
Belviq and Belviq XR have been tied to numerous other side effects. These include headaches, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, dry mouth, and constipation. Patients with diabetes who take Belviq / Belviq XR might also experience coughing, back pain, and hypoglycemia. The drug can also cause slowed heartbeat and heart valve issues. The medications were rejected by the European Medicines Agency in 2012 due to safety concerns.
Belviq is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Agency. This means the drug carries risks of dependence. People who take higher doses than prescribed can experience hallucinations, euphoria, and slowed thinking. The medication can also adversely interact with other prescriptions. Note that Belviq / Belviq XR were only approved for people who are overweight (a body-mass index between 27 and 30) or obese (a body-mass index over 30) and have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
To find out if a Belviq Lawsuit is right for you visit our Bevlviq Instant Case Report Tool or contact TruLaw at 888-878-5295 to speak with a Belviq Lawyer.
FDA Belviq Recall
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requested that Belviq, the popular weight-loss medication, be voluntarily pulled from U.S. markets after clinical safety trials tied the drug to increased cancer rates. Eisai Inc., the medication’s manufacturer, submitted to requests and pulled the drug from the market.
FDA officials said cancer risks tied to Belviq are significant enough to call for the medication’s removal from markets. Since the drug’s approval, researchers have been conducting a five-year study analyzing its safety profile. The researchers discovered approximately 7.7 percent of Belviq users had a cancer diagnosis versus the 7.1 percent who took a placebo.
FDA Belviq Recommendations
Patients
FDA officials said people taking Belviq should stop immediately. Patients should speak with a health professional to find different weight-loss drugs and weight-management programs. Patients should dispose of Belviq at a drug take-back site or in their household waste using the following techniques:
- Mix the drug into an uninviting material such as used coffee grounds, cat litter, or dirt. Do not crush the medication.
- Put the mix in a sealed container like a plastic bottle or bag.
- Throw away the container in your household trash.
- Remove personal information from the prescription labels, bottles, or packaging. Recycle or throw away the containers.
The FDA is not requiring special cancer screenings for people who took Belviq. Patients should still undergo regular recommended cancer screenings. Patients should contact their healthcare provider with any questions.
Healthcare Professionals
The FDA said healthcare providers should immediately stop dispensing and prescribing Belviq and Belviq XR to patients. Providers should contact any patients currently taking the medication to inform them of the clinical trial results and ask them to stop taking the drug. Providers should help patients find alternative medications and weight-loss strategies.
Reporting Belviq Side Effects
To help the FDA track Belviq safety issues, the agency encourages patients and health professionals to report adverse reactions and side effects to the FDA’s MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.
Information can be submitted through:
- The MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form
- Contacting the FDA at 855-543-DRUG (3784) and pressing 4, or at druginfo@fda.hhs.gov
- Downloading the form from the FDA Medwatch Safety Reporting Website
or calling 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then submitting the completed form by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178 or on the listed return address.
Filing a Belviq Lawsuit
If you took Belviq or Belviq XR and developed cancer or other adverse side effects, you could be eligible for a Belviq / Belviq XR lawsuit. If you took Belviq or Belviq XR and were diagnosed with colorectal, pancreatic, or lung cancer, we will work to seek the following damages for you:
- Expenses from your medical treatment
- Pain and suffering, both physical and mental, from cancer, treatments, and your recovery time
- Loss of wages and earning capabilities
- Loss of enjoyment of life due to the disease and damages
Hiring a Belviq Lawyer
Hiring an experienced Belviq lawyer is critical for earning full compensation for the suffering endured by you or your loved one. TruLaw will work with you to successfully pursue your bad drug lawsuit. We offer free, zero-obligation case consultations for all potential Belviq lawsuit clients. Find out if you qualify instantly or Contact TruLaw today to learn about your potential case and legal options.