> We got the letter from the health authority on Wednesday,
> instructing us NOT to prescribe this drug.
Very sensible too ;-)
> Anyone seen the list if side effects?
> I don't like the sound of "oily spotting from the rectum"
> or "flatus with discharge".
Yes, in about a quarter of patients in trials. Even more interesting
is the licensed indication which is for obese patients, in
conjunction with a hypocaloric diet, with BMI>=30 or 28 with risk
factors; and only if there has been weight loss of at least 2.5 kg
over four consecutive weeks on diet alone. If there is weight loss
on diet alone, there seems little point in adding drug treatment,
especially since the mean additional wieght loss compared with
placebo is modest (~3 kg) and it doesn't prevent weight regain even
if treatment is continued.
In short, obesity is a big problem but until
anti-obesity agents have been shown to reduce the incidence or
severity of obesity-related diseases, then they are not the answer.
Mark Campbell
Newcastle upon Tyne
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