In February, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested that pharmaceutical manufacturer Eisai Inc. voluntarily pull its weight loss medication Belviq from the market due to concerns about potentially deadly Belviq side effects, namely that the drug may cause cancer.

Belviq Medication Overview

Manufactured by Eisai Inc., Belviq is a weight loss drug that also comes in a generic called lorcaserin. Belviq works by activating a serotonin receptor in the brain known as the 5-HT2C receptor. This receptor is located in the hypothalamus and is connected to hunger and appetite. By activating this receptor, Belviq is designed to reduce the desire to eat. It may also cause people to feel full after eating smaller amounts of food.

What is Belviq Used For?

Belviq was developed to be a safe and effective weight loss medication for people who are overweight or obese. The FDA approved the medication as a treatment option for those with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, or with a BMI of 27 if they also have a weight-related condition such as type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. When used in conjunction with diet and exercise, the medication was supposed to promote weight loss.

According to clinical trial data concerning the efficacy of Belviq for weight loss, approximately 50% of people who did not have type-2 diabetes and took the drug over the course of a year lost an average of 12 pounds, or at least 5% of their starting weight.

However, several serious Belviq side effects have been linked to the drug.

Why Was Belviq Taken Off the Market?

 Eisai voluntarily removed Belviq from the market after research found its drug may increase cancer risk. In addition to a 2007 animal study indicating lorcaserin may cause aggressive tumors in rats, a study of 12,000 human patients also raised concerns that the drug may cause cancer.

Although the study was initially conducted to determine whether patients who took Belviq were at additional risk for cardiovascular events, researchers realized that cancer may be a more likely Belviq side effect.

The study found that 7.7% of patients who took Belviq developed cancer, compared with 7.1% in patients who took a placebo.

The likelihood of developing cancer after taking Belviq may be related to the length of time the drug is taken. Although the increased cancer rate may seem small, the cancer types associated with Belviq tend to have poor outcomes. Lung cancer kills more Americans than any other cancer type, and colorectal and pancreatic cancer are both in the top five most deadly cancers.

The five-year survival rate for colorectal cancer patients is approximately 65%; 19% for lung cancer; and between 5% and 10% for pancreatic cancer.

Are There Any Side Effects to Belviq Medication?

In addition to cancer, Belviq may also cause more minor side effects such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, dry mouth, cough, constipation, low blood sugar, and back pain.

In early 2020, Eisai voluntarily pulled Belviq from the market after the FDA recommended that patients cease taking the drug. An FDA Drug Safety Communication states that a clinical trial linked Belviq with increased cancer risk, specifically pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers.

There have also been concerns about Belviq damaging heart valves. In 1997, fenfluramine, a drug that worked in a similar mechanism as Belviq, also was removed from the market due to concerns about heart valve defects. However, a 2012 review of Belviq indicated that heart valve defects were unlikely at the drug’s prescribed dosages.

Additionally, Belviq simply may not be effective for some patients. The drug’s label cautioned that people who do not lose 5% of their body weight after 12 weeks are unlikely to lose weight on the medication and are recommended to cease taking it. Those who eat due to boredom, impulsivity, or comfort, rather than hunger, also may not find Belviq to be effective for weight loss.

Belviq Lawsuits

At least one patient has filed a Belviq cancer lawsuit. Plaintiff Barbara Z. filed a complaint in early 2020 after the drug had already been recalled. Barbara claims that the damage had already been done to her and countless others who took Belviq for weight loss.

Although Barbara’s lawsuit does not specify whether she was diagnosed with cancer or other Belviq side effects, she is seeking damages from the pharmaceutical company for breach of implied warranty, deceptive acts, and false advertising. Belviq, Barbara claims, failed to disclose to the FDA the potential cancer risk associated with the medication and maintains that had the side effects been known, the drug never would have received FDA approval.

If you have taken Belviq for weight-loss treatment and have suffered severe side effects, including cancer, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, and medical expenses. Speaking with a qualified attorney about your case may be the first step in determining your legal options.

In addition to compensation for injuries, pain and suffering, and medical expenses related to Belviq side effects, patients who pursue a class action lawsuit against the drug manufacturer may also be able to recover reimbursement. Many patients paid in the $300 per month range for Belviq medication, which insurance generally did not cover. A yearly Belviq prescription may have set patients back more than $3,500. Patients who were harmed by this expensive drug may be able to recover compensation for these costs.

Join A Belviq Cancer Side Effects Lawsuit Investigation

If you took Belviq or Belviq XR and developed cancer, you may be able to join a FREE Belviq cancer class action lawsuit investigation. Fill out the form on this page for more information.

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