Approved Diet Drug Causes Controversy

A controversial diet drug which increases the rish of suicide and depression has been approved for NHS use in England and Wales .
Rimonabant is in use by many Britons today. In combination with exercise, it can assist patients lose in the region of 10% of their existing body weight .
The USA and Scotland have not given their approval amidst safety concerns.
In July 2007, the European Medicines Agency issued a warning that rimonabant could be unsafe for patients who are also on anti-depressants .
GPs in UK and Wales have been informed not to prescribe it for patients who have a history of major depression, and also to be on the alert should patients develop any new symptoms of depression.
Patients have only been given the drug on the NHS, brand name Acomplia, if they have tried and failed using alternative drugs like orlistat.
A tenth of people can develop mental side-effects, such as, depression, moods, anxiety, irritability, nervousness and sleep disorders.
President of the UK Faculty for Public Health, Professor Alan Alan Maryon-Davis, stated that such drugs may be alright for some patients. However, this is not a long-term solution and can have serious side-effects.
For a few such drugs can lead to weight loss, improved general health, lower blood pressure, and lower cholesterol levels.
The ultimate solution to dieting is: eat less and exercise more.
Rimonabant initially became available in the UK in 2006. Thereupon, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency received 720 reports of adverse drug reactions, covering 2,123 individual reactions : 974 of these involved psychiatric disorders, with 48 reports of suicidal thoughts and 93 of depression.