Consumers who suffered from Belviq side effects, such as an increased risk of cancer, may be eligible to file a lawsuit.

What Is Belviq?

Belviq (lorcaserin) is a medication used to promote weight loss in overweight patients or people with weight-related problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or other conditions, according to MedicinePlus. The drug is part of the serotonin receptor agonists and works to lower weight by increasing feelings of fullness. As a result, appetite is suppressed and patients eat less food.

Does Belviq Cause Cancer?

Belviq’s manufacturer conducted a long-term trial that showed the drug is associated with an increased risk of cancer, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA required CAMELLIA-TIMI 61 trial for lorcaserin in order to assess the cardiovascular risks of the drug. This type of trial is often required for diabetes or blood pressure drugs, as they are often prescribed to patients with a high cardiovascular risk.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined outcomes of 12,000 men and women over five years. The studied patients had cardiovascular disease or were at a high risk for such conditions.

Unfortunately, the trial data revealed a concerning trend — Belviq patients had more cases of cancer than placebo patients.

In placebo patients, 423, or 7.1 percent, of patients were diagnosed with 470 cancers. In Belviq patients, 462, or 7.7 percent, of patients were diagnosed with 520 cancers.

The Belviq patients reportedly saw higher numbers of pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers when compared to the overall number of cancers.

No apparent difference was found in the initial months of treatment, but the imbalance of Belviq cancer cases reportedly increased with longer treatment terms. The increased risk of cancer on Belviq translates to one additional case of cancer for each 470 patients treated in a year, according to the FDA.

Has Belviq Been Discontinued?

Due to the results of the clinical trial, the FDA requested manufacturer Eisai Inc. voluntarily withdraw Belviq and Belviq XR from the market in February 2020. The agency encouraged patients to stop taking the drug and to speak to a medical professional about the issue. The manufacturer complied with the withdrawal request.

Although Eisai was voluntarily withdrawing Belviq from the U.S. market, the manufacturer believes the drug continues to have a positive benefit-risk profile in the indicated patient population, according to the Belviq website.

“Eisai’s interpretation of the data from the CAMELLIA-TIMI 61 trial differs from that of the FDA. However, based on the change in FDA’s risk-benefit assessment and as requested by the Agency, Eisai has agreed to voluntarily withdraw the products from the U.S. market,” the website reads.

“Eisai respects the FDA’s decision and is working closely with the Agency on the withdrawal process.”

What Should You Do If You Took Belviq?

The FDA has advised people to stop taking Belviq immediately and speak with their medical professionals. There may be alternative options for patients on Belviq or Belviq XR.

To dispose of any remaining Belviq pills, the FDA recommends taking the remaining drugs to a drug take-back location, such as a designated pharmacy or hospital. If consumers don’t have access to such a facility, they can dispose the pills in a household trash by mixing the medication — without crushing it — with an unappealing substance and placing the mixture in a sealed bag, throwing the bag away, and removing the bottle’s prescription label to protect personal information.

Although the FDA encouraged patients to stop taking the drug, the agency is not recommending special cancer screening for these individuals.

Instead, the agency urges patients to follow standard screening recommendations, such as colonoscopies, mammograms, and pap tests. These screenings are recommended for all patients, not only those who took Belviq.

Any instances of Belviq cancer can be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch program. Through reports from patients and healthcare professionals, this platform helps the agency track safety issues with medications.

How Can You File a Belviq Lawsuit?

Unfortunately, Belviq cancer may be a real possibility for patients who took the drug. This can lead to unexpected medical bills along with the emotional anguish of dealing with cancer. However, filing a Belviq lawsuit may be an option.

If you or a family member took Belviq and developed cancer, you may be able to speak to a qualified attorney about this issue and potentially file a Belviq lawsuit against Eisai. Legal action against the manufacturer could help recover damages for medical bills or expenses for bereaved family members.

Join a Belviq Cancer Lawsuit Investigation

If you took Belviq and developed cancer, you may be able to join a Belviq cancer class action lawsuit investigation. 

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