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Slimming pill taken off shelves

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An anti-obesity pill has been banned from shelves after concerns were raised it could prompt psychiatric side effects and possible suicide.

Medical chiefs have recommended doctors do not prescribe the drug rimonabant, also known as Acomplia, after the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) warned the risk of serious psychiatric problems and possible suicide linked to the drug was too high.

Figures show that nearly 100,000 people in Britain have taken the drug since it hit the market two years ago and was dubbed the '£2 wonder pill'. Now the EMEA says as it cannot determine who may be at risk of psychiatric side effects, sales of the drug must be suspended immediately.

Since the drug became available seven deaths, including a suicide, have been associated with the slimming treatment and around 2,500 patients have reported adverse reactions to Acomplia. To date, U.S authorities have yet to approve the drug for sales.

Now the EMA has banned the drug after establishing the 'benefits no longer outweigh its risks.'

The medical body reported: 'New data from post-marketing experience and ongoing clinical trials indicated that serious psychiatric disorders may be more common than in the clinical trials.'

It continued: 'Patients who are currently taking Acomplia should consult their doctor or pharmacist at a convenient time to discuss their treatment.

'There is no need for patients to stop treatment with Acomplia immediately, but patients who wish to stop can do so at any time.'

Dr June Raine of the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) backed the EMEA's advice.

Meanwhile Dr Colin Waine, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: 'My patients were doing very well on it, and they will now have to stop and come off it.'

He added: 'Patient safety must be foremost, but I always thought that if you ruled out the patients with depression, you ruled out the problem with the drug.'

Friday 24 October 2008

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Having some really bad experiences recently my wife hid my tablets after talking to the doctor about the depressive state I was in. Luckily I'm still here...but it was close.....very close
Comment by Andy LS on October 24 11:02

i have been on rimonabant for 3 months now and the only sideaffect i recieved in the very first few days was sleep apnia and leg cramps and they soon went away and and now i am completely happy on them with no depression and no other side effects and considering i used to suffer from depression many years ago i think all the press is bull i am fine on them infact never been happier and loosing weight leave the tablets alone !!!!!
Comment by miss turner on October 24 21:18