No Longer Accepting Belviq Cases

 

Belviq and Belviq RX (lorcaserin) weight loss drugs were removed from shelves on February 13, 2020. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalled Belviq after published studies showed that users carried an increased risk of developing cancer. Users say the manufacturer of Belviq never warned them of this risk, and they would not have used the product had they known.

 

If you were prescribed Belviq prior to receiving a cancer diagnosis, a Belviq lawsuit might be worth considering. A settlement or jury award can help you pay for the best medical care, assuage your mental suffering, and provide for your living expenses during this difficult time.

 

If you have lost a loved one to cancer who had been using Belviq for weight loss, you may be entitled to compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, loss of support or guidance, and funeral/burial expenses.

 

Do You Need a Belviq Cancer Lawyer?

 

A Belviq cancer lawyer from Showard Law Firm can provide you with a free, confidential, no-obligation case review. This will help you determine the strength of your case and what possible compensation you might expect. If you would like to pursue legal action, it costs you nothing upfront to have them prepare the paperwork and represent your interests in settlement talks or the courtroom. You can feel confident, as you will be working with an experienced attorney who possesses experience with both local Arizona cases and national MDL proceedings. Call now for a free legal consultation to explore your full set of options.

 

Belviq Side Effects

 

The most common Belviq side effects include headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, dry mouth, and constipation– which would resolve within a few weeks of regular use. Patients with diabetes may  have experienced low blood sugar, headache, back pain, and dry cough. Though it was not listed as a potential side effect, many users reported the growth of tumors.

 

Possible symptoms of cancer include:

 

  • Persistent cough or hoarseness for over a month and blood-tinged saliva
  • Changes in bowel habits, pencil-thin stools, continuous diarrhea, bloody stool, or frequent elimination
  • Anemia, iron deficiency, and unexplained blood loss
  • Frequent small amounts of urine, increased urinary tract infections, or blood in urine
  • Lumps in the breasts or testicles, enlarged prostate, or lumps in the pelvis or abdomen
  • Unusual vaginal discharge, genital itching, and abnormal or postmenopausal bleeding
  • Chronic indigestion, bloating, difficulty swallowing, or nonhealing mouth sores
  • Unexplained weight loss, night sweats, or fever
  • Severe and unrelenting headaches, back pain, chronic fatigue, and nausea

 

Contact your primary care physician immediately if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.

 

How Did Belviq Weight Loss Work?

 

Arena Pharmaceuticals first manufactured and sold Belviq as a long-term weight control supplement in 2013. Tokyo-based Eisai Inc. acquired the drugs in 2017 when Belviq XR was released. Belviq was sold as a twice-a-day 10 mg tablet, whereas Belviq XR is an extended-release form of the drug taken once a day. Lorcaserin was marketed to obese or overweight adults who wanted to be more successful in reaching and maintaining an ideal BMI.

 

The Belviq weight-loss drugs work by triggering serotonin receptors in the brain linked to satiety, tricking the body into thinking it is not hungry. On average, users lost at least 5% of their body weight, or 12 pounds, over the course of a year. Users who did not meet this goal were encouraged to discontinue use.

 

The FDA rejected Arena’s first request for approval in 2010, asking for more safety evidence. New data showed that there was no correlation with heart problems, as this was the concern with other weight loss drugs at the time. One troubling finding was a 2012 FDA memo finding that mammary gland tumors were developing in male and female lab rats at “clinically relevant exposures.” The FDA required the company to perform six additional safety tests over the coming years, but the European Medicines Agency straight-out rejected the drug.

 

The recently completed FDA analysis of 12,000 patients found that 7.7% of Belviq users were diagnosed with cancer, compared to 7.1% of people taking placebos. It is unclear exactly how the drug may be linked to cancer, but patients reported a wide range of cancers– particularly pancreatic, colorectal, and lung.

 

Belviq Lawsuit Inquiries

 

Belviq litigation is just getting started, so there have been no settlements or jury awards as of yet. Contact Showard Law Firm to see if you qualify to file a legal complaint. If the manufacturer agrees to a settlement, you may receive compensation for medical bills, related out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, an estimated amount for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment in life, and prolonged disability. You may call the office anytime, 24/7, for more information on filing a Belviq lawsuit.

 

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

 

  1. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/weight-loss-drug-belviq-pulled-market-cancer-risk-68973534
  2. Emedicine Health. https://www.emedicinehealth.com/cancer_symptoms/article_em.htm#more_cancer_signs_and_symptoms
  3. Consumer Reports. https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2013/06/weight-loss-pill-belviq-is-now-available-but-we-say-skip-it/index.htm

Time Magazine. https://healthland.time.com/2012/06/28/belviq-5-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-diet-pill/