US regulators have approved a weight-loss drug called Contrave, the third type of such prescription medication introduced in over 10 years, despite carrying some possible heavy side-effects of its own.
Contrave, which won its official stamp of approval this week from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is being trumpeted as the latest wonder treatment in America’s seemingly endless quest to shed weight.
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However, the drug is not without possible health risks.
Produced by Orexigen Therapeutic Inc, the weight loss medication
is a cocktail of two drugs, naltrexone, which is used in the
treatment of alcohol and narcotic addiction, and bupropion, an
antidepressant, also prescribed to people who want to quit
smoking.
The FDA said the drug is approved for treatment of individuals
who are considered to be clinically obese.
However, because the pill contains an antidepressant, the FDA
said Contrave would carry a warning about the “risk of
suicidal thoughts” when taking the medication. Experts point
to the potentially hazardous drug combinations for users who may
be taking other pharmaceutical drugs in addition to the new pill.
Contrave, Newest Weight Loss Option: FAQ http://t.co/h4b9ld2PAp
— WebMD (@WebMD) September 11, 2014
"Physicians prescribing these brain medications have to
review patients other medications because they're frequently on
antidepressants and there's an interaction," Dr. Ronald
Tamler of Mount Sinai Hospital's diabetes center told AP.
But the potential health risks do not end there. Users of
Contrave may also experience seizures, increased blood pressure
and accelerated heart rates.
It was precisely due to the potential health risks associated
with Orexigen’s new drug that the FDA, citing cardiovascular
complications, rejected approval of the pill back in 2011.
Orexigen resubmitted its application to regulators in December,
saying that the drug fared well in an early analysis of a study
designed to rule out excessive cardiovascular risk.
Although no word has been given on how much Contrave will cost,
market experts predict the new drug will surpass sales of two
other prescription weight-loss medication, Vivus Inc’s Qsymia and
Arena's Belviq, two drugs approved in 2012 that fell far short of
sales expectations
Contrave will be distributed in the United States by Takeda
Pharmaceuticals, a Japanese company, which will give Orexigen
royalties on sales, AP reported.
The weight-loss medication is expected to be available to
consumers this fall.