Suicide-risk diet drug is A-okay says Government

An obesity drug has been approved for use in England and Wales – despite carrying a risk of depression or even suicide.

Do not exceed dosage… do not drink excessive alcohol… do not operate heavy machinery… do not listen to Nick Drake and look through old pictures of your ex who has Moved On Spectacularly.

Rimonabant – the pill at the centre of the barney – is already being used by thousands of Brits. When used properly – i.e. with exercise and other healthy behaviour – it can help obese people lose up to 10% of their body weight.

Trouble is, people who need to lose 10% of their body weight, are often not the happiest people. And yet, a possible side effect of reducing your body weight with rimonabant is exacerbated depression and potential suicide.

Rimonabant has been available in the UK since 2006 and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has had 720 reports of adverse reactions (2,123 individual reactions) in that time.

Some 974 of these adverse reactions involved psychiatric disorders, 93 involved depression and most worryingly, 48 reports involved suicidal thoughts.

Even the US hasn’t approved its use because of safety concerns.

Fat and unhappy or thin and dead? Well apparently it’s not that simple.

Apparently, one in 10 people taking rimonabant (with the brand name Acomplia within the NHS) could experience side-effects including bad mood, anxiety, irritability and sleep disorders.

On the other hand, as well as weight loss, use can lead to improved overall health, lowered blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

While the NHS has approved the use, there are guidelines.

Last year, the European Medicines Agency warned that rimonabant may be unsafe for patients on anti-depressants, and this has been echoed today by NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) the body that decides which drugs can be used within the health service.

Doctors have been told not to give it to patients who have suffered major depression and to keep an eye out for depressive symptoms in patients taking rimonabant. Patients won’t be allowed to take it until they have tried to lose weight on all alternative drugs. Just the group of people likely to be full of the joys of spring. Real ‘glass half full’ people.

Source: BBC News

Image: jeltovski