July 19, 2010 9:50 AM

FDA Weight Loss Pill: Experts "Weigh In" on Qnexa

By
Neil Katz
Topics
News ,
Diet ,
Heart ,
Diabetes
fat, overweight, diet

(istockphoto)

GAITHERSBURG, MD. (CBS/AP) Overweight people and the drug industry will have to wait a little longer to find the holy grail of weight loss - a magic pill that does it for you.

Last week, an FDA panel recomended against a hopeful called Qnexa, saying the drug's side effects outweighed its ability to help people lose weight.

People on the drug lost more than 10 percent of their body weight in company-sponsored trials, but also experienced a range of side effects, including memory lapses, suicidal thoughts, and heart palpitations.

"Some of these side effects are serious and could be life-threatening and must be weighed against a relatively modest weight loss," said the FDA panel's chair, Kenneth Burman of the Washington Hospital Center.

With U.S. obesity rates nearing 35 percent of the adult population, doctors and patients say new pharmaceutical treatments are needed. And Wall Street analysts say even a modestly effective drug has blockbuster potential.

And while Qnexa was shot down in a 10-6 vote, some of the panelists wanted to approve the drug if more data were available on long-term health effects. The current trial lasted a year.

The FDA takes the panel's findings as a recommendation and still could, in theory, vote to approve the drug.

Qnexa is a combination of two older drugs: the amphetamine phentermine and topiramate, an anticonvulsant drug sold by Johnson & Johnson as Topamax. According to the company, phentermine helps suppress appetite, while topiramate makes patients feel more satiated.

Another diet pill hopeful, lorcaserin, got a more positive review last week. An FDA panel said the drug was relatively safe, but only helped people lose five percent of their body weight. Experts expect it will eventually be approved.




Add a Comment
by nexusx2 July 21, 2011 12:19 AM EDT
Most people have food craving attacks and assume that they can be dealt with by popping pills. If you are getting an urge to eat then your body is telling you that it is starving. So do what your body asks. Feed your body! Pack a bag of snacks like vegetables and fruits. Will loading up on carrots and grapes really make you fat?

Stephen Esquibel
<a href="http://www.Loseweightrpms.com" title="Weight Loss Consultant">Weight Loss Consultant.</a>
http://www.Loseweightrpms.com
Reply to this comment
by candysho March 6, 2011 3:16 PM EST
As I see this pill ingredients - amphetamine phentermine and topiramate. I can say that there is weight loss pills available with active ingredient phentermine and it is well known to the audience (http://www.losefatreviews.com/phen-375-review.html). We don't have to wait for magic pill we have to eat healthier and to train regularly.
Reply to this comment
by limei0 October 28, 2010 1:41 PM EDT
I use the Dr Max Powers Burn Supplements and saw results in a short period of time. Not only did it help me lose weight, I received a lot of comments about how I looked 'younger' and 'better.'

Also helped with energy before and during workouts. I am now on my second re-order. Further, I had a problem with my mail and the website customer service was fantastic as to helping me get the product. Highly recommend.
Reply to this comment
by Dr_Len_Lucas August 13, 2010 11:37 PM EDT
As a physician I don't believe in pills to lose weight. The simple fact is, if you can't do it the rest of your life it won't work. This means your behavior will revert to your old ways and you will yo-yo your weight plus another 5-10% more. More <a href="http://fat-burningtips.com/blog">on My Bloog</a>
Reply to this comment
by whenitsnotyourfault August 4, 2010 9:11 PM EDT
Have you ever taken a weight loss or ?fat burning? pill in hope that it will speed things up? As of January 8, 2009, the FDA initiated a press release expanding warnings about tainted weight loss pills. The FDA has inspected a number of companies associated with the sale of these illegal products and is continuoisly seeking product recalls. A list of tainted pills can be found in the book Weight Gain: When It?s Not Your Fault.

The health risks posed by these products can be serious; for example, Sibutramine, which was in many of the products, can cause high blood pressure, seizures, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), palpitations, heart attack or stroke. Another ingredients found in these products that was evaluated by the FDA is Rimonabant; the drug has been associated with depression, suicidal thoughts, 5 deaths, and 720 adverse reactions in Europe over the prior two years (as of when the book was written).

Health care professionals and consumers should report serious adverse events (side effects) or product quality problems to the FDA?s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program online, by regular mail, fax or phone.

Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm

Regular Mail: use postage-paid FDA form 3500 available at: www.fda.gov/medwatch/getforms.htm and mail to MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787

Fax: (800) FDA-0178

Phone: (800) FDA-1088

Taking the listed pills (found in the book) simply means you will be gaining the weight back. There is not a ?magic bullet? to help you lose weight. The reality is that companies do sell dangerous pills and people do get hurt. The FDA depends on us, the medical professionals, to do our best to try to educate our patients.
Reply to this comment
by Lee_Smith July 19, 2010 9:50 PM EDT
While folks await medical solutions, they may want to consider recording their food cravings to understand when (time of day--and which days of the week/month) they experience food cravings (a physiological and psychological approach). Identifying patterns and then working with your healthcare professional or dietitian can pay large dividends. Tools such as MyHealthTrends for Weight Control (http://weightcontrol.myhealthtrends.com) can be a great solution to help reduce binge/impulse eating.
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