Weight Loss Drugs Have Dubious Approval

August 20, 2012

Qsymia

July 18 was a red letter day for Qsymia, a new drug that just received FDA approval for weight loss. There were press releases and newscasts about the event. .

As the television news moved through their analysis and shared their tests of the drug, a certain level of misgivings about the product arose in my mind. Certain concerns were not being addressed.

  • How effective is this drug?
  • What are the side effects?
  • Are there contraindications for people with heart and lung conditions?
  • Is it safe to take this drug without supervision of a doctor?

My first choice for investigating this drug with high approval from the FDA was an July 18 article from Consumer Reports. After reading their negative review, I went to my next choice for information, the FDA announce of its approval.

Consumer Reports answered all of my questions. How was that possible when the broadcast news sidestepped those issues? It was even more important, then, to see what the FDA reported with regard to use of the drug. There was disclosure. Why the drug was given approval in the first place is a mystery.

According to either reports, the effectiveness is limited. The trials were conducted over a year's amount of time and with a control group as well as the group using the drug. The study group, according to Consumer Reports, [continue reading]