Side Effects Of Weight Loss Drugs' Called Into Question
Belviq and Qysmia are weight loss drugs that were approved by the FDA in 2012. Both drugs have had their fair share of issues, and neither has had tremendous financial success. For either drug, it can cost between $160-$200 per month for a prescription. The cost is high for the majority of American patients, and some insurance companies don’t provide coverage. Now, two Dartmouth medical researchers are asking questions about the drugs’ health risks. The researchers wrote a column in the JAMA Internal Medicine journal warning doctors, researchers, and patients about the drugs and their potential negative side effects.
The researchers claim that the reason insurance companies typically reimburse more for weight loss surgeries is because those surgeries are considered safer and more effective than Belviq and Qysmia. The researchers, Dr. Steven Woloshin and Dr. Lisa Schwartz, explained their position in their column, “
Some of the potential side effects of both drugs include memory loss, attention problems, language issues, and depression. The drugs can also cause low blood sugar, which is especially problematic because many weight loss patients are already diabetic. The FDA has required the manufacturers of Belviq and Qysmia to continue safety trials, though they approved the drugs because the agency felt the health risks of obesity outweighed the other potentially negative side effects.
Woloshin and Schwartz claimed that, because of the slow-pace of the safety trials and the negative potential side effects, doctors and patients should approach both drugs cautiously.
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