Suicide risk fears over diet pill  

The drug works by reducing appetite

A weight loss drug used by thousands of Britons has been rejected by US safety officials because of an increased risk of suicide.

Rimonabant, launched in the UK last summer, has been shown to aid weight loss by reducing appetite.

But a committee advising the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted to ban the pill, saying the manufacturers had failed to show it was safe.

European regulators will review the drug’s safety at an upcoming meeting.

Around 37,000 Britons have been prescribed rimonabant which can help users lose up to 10% of their body weight.

Rimonabant has a role, it should be used with care but directed towards the right patient it can be effective and safe.   Dr Ian Campbell, Weight Concern

The drug is currently recommended for obese patients with a risk of developing diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

It works by blocking receptors in the part of the brain that regulate food intake and the body’s ability to break down sugars and fats in the blood.

The National Institute of Clinical and Health Excellence (NICE) is currently appraising the drug for use on the NHS.

Safety concerns

The US committee of experts reviewed studies of rimonabant conducted around the world.

They told an FDA hearing that the drug is associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts even in those with no history of depression.

Studies had also highlighted significant increases in anxiety, insomnia, and panic attacks in patients given 20 mg of rimonabant compared with placebo.

A recent review of rimonabant by the Cochrane database concluded that more rigorous studies of efficacy and safety were required for a drug where the weight loss is “modest”.