Weight Loss Drug Acomplia and Suicide Risk
You may have heard of this effective prescription weight loss drug called Acomplia. It’s drug name is rimonabant, but it is marketed by drug company sanofi-aventis, and the European council that recommends drug warnings and polices the drug industry over there, our equivalent (sort of) to the FDA here in the United States, has asked the drug maker to put a new, more stern warning on the drug for its users about the possibility of increased suicidal thoughts or tendencies in some.
They stressed that it is vital for those who suffer from depression, especially extreme depression, or who are currently being treated for depression or the more serious form of clinical depression, to completely stay away from this drug, as a prudent measure against possible suicide tendencies. It’s interesting, because most prescription diet and weight loss drugs do have some sort of biochemical effect on the brain activity, but this one apparently can actually produce feelings of potential suicide in those that may already have depressed tendencies.
Makes you wonder about other diet drugs and how they affect the brain’s activity too. Supposedly, I’ve read that Acomplia does only result in short term weight loss, and that if the drug is stopped, the weight will return unless healthy habits are adhered to. Acomplia is supposed to work by suppressing desire for sweets and “bad” foods, as well as overall appetite suppression. Natural appetite suppressants, it should be noted, have not been shown to cause depression or possibility of suicidal thoughts.
Upon the European approval of the serious weight loss drug, which is recommended in conjunction with a healthy diet and moderate exercise, there were concerns cited about the possible depression side effect, and a warning was placed on the label. This new suicide warning is being added (hopefully) in addition, as they see that this could be a potential real problem for those with depression and feel they must be adequately warned. The drug has been available as a weightloss drug in Europe since mid 2006.
