New Obestity Pill

?After being rejected in 2012, the FDA has finally approved a new weight loss drug, which is targeted for obese and overweight individuals. This new wonder drug, Lorcaserin, is manufactured by Arena Pharmaceuticals and will be marketed by the Japanese corporation, Eisai, with the brand name "Belviq". The FDA has given its stamp of approval for people who are obese, or anyone with a body mass index of 30 or higher. This drug is also approved for overweight individuals, or anyone with a body mass index of 27 or higher that have at least one weight related health condition, such has high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or type 2 diabetes.

Belviq works by activating brain receptors for serotonin, a neurotransmitter that triggers feelings of satisfaction and satiety, which helps to control appetite. However, since Serotonin also affects mood, Belviq may not be as affective for those taking antidepressants.

There have been FDA sanctioned studies done to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Belviq. Included in these studies are three randomized, placebo-controlled trials including close to eight thousand obese and overweight patients, some of which suffer from type 2 diabetes. Test subjects participated in the study from one to two years. The results of these test showed that participants who took Belviq for one year experienced weight loss ranging from 3% to 3.7% of their starting weight. Those suffering from type 2 diabetes experienced more significant weight loss, around 5% of their starting weight.

However, like any drug, Belviq does has some side effects. In both diabetic and non diabetic patients, side effects included dizziness, nausea, dry mouth, constipation and headache. In diabetic patients, some more severe side effects, such as low blood sugar, back pain, cough and fatigue exist.