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Warning over 'suicide risk' obesity pill
Anna Davis, Evening Standard25 Jun 2008
An anti-obesity drug linked to depression and suicide has been approved for use on the NHS.
Rimonabant is banned in America because of safety fears but can now be prescribed for British patients who cannot use two other weight-loss drugs.
However, doctors have been warned not to give the pill to patients with a history of depression or suicidal thoughts.
In December, the Lancet medical journal said in a trial patients using the medication were three times more likely to stop using it because of anxiety than patients given a dummy drug.
The European Medicines Agency has warned that rimonabant, also known as Acomplia, may be unsafe for patients on anti-depressants.
New guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence states that patients should use the drug while also following a healthy diet and taking exercise. It should only be used by people who have already tried two other drugs, orlistat and sibutramine - also known as Xenical and Reductil.
The pill is taken orally every day and costs about £2 per pill.
