Big Pharma eyes more revenue with potentially dangerous new obesity pill

Monday, August 19, 2013 by: Lance Johnson
Tags: obesity pill, weight loss, Big Pharma

(NaturalNews) As obesity weighs down over a third of the United States adult population, drug companies are moving in to save the day. Arena pharmaceuticals, along with the FDA's nod of approval, are set to begin marketing the first FDA approved weight loss drug in 13 years. The drug, lorcaserin, will be marketed in the US as Belviq, a pill designed for those with chronic weight issues with a BMI of 30 or more. It will also be prescribed to those with a BMI of 27 with at least one "weight related" condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. With projections of obesity to strike half the US population in the next 10 years, this 'quick fix' pop-a-pill mindset will do nothing but perpetuate the problem and ignore the root causes.

DEA warns of drugs abuse potential

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has declared lorcaserin a Schedule IV drug, according to the Controlled Substances Act, which now states that this drug has the potential for abuse and dependence.

Abuse and dependence is definitely not the positive and correct way to deal with a problem like obesity, but the pill is poised to be just that - another pharmaceutical dependency program, aimed at taking advantage of the growing obesity market in the United States. According to the DEA, this anti-obesity drug now falls into the categories of drugs like the anti-anxiety benzodiazepines and the sleep aid Ambien, which have become abused and depended upon in recent years.

The DEA's concern lies in lorcaserin's potential to cause mind altering effects.

The researchers found out that some patients who received higher than recommended doses of lorcaserin in clinical trials reported "altered perception, abnormal dreams, sedation, or feelings of euphoria."

With a wide, ever-growing obesity market, lorcaserin could become a cheap street drug that adolescents might abuse as they look for a cheap recreational high. Pharmaceutical abuse and misuse is growing trend with adolescents, especially with stimulants Ritalin and Adderall.

The mind altering effects of Belviq come from the drug's stimulation of brain receptors. Lorcaserin works in much of the same way as LSD, stimulating the 5-HT2A receptor. (In a Canadian study, a 60 mg dose was deemed similar to an LSD trip). Lorcaserin also stimulates the 5-HT2B receptor, which is associated with heart valve disease (just another side effect to go along with this 'miracle drug'). Finally Lorcaserin stimulates the third receptor 5-HT2C, which effects appetite.

Cure obesity with a lifestyle change, not a fad diet or a pill

Many people try to lose weight by going on the latest fad diet, popping a pill, or going with a quick fix. The fads may work for a little while, but the changes are only temporary as weight always finds a way to work its way back in. The key to losing weight and keeping healthy organs is to adopt a long term health strategy rooted in lifestyle changes. This includes eliminating bad habits one at a time, learning how to limit oneself and say no. It's what one does most of the time that matters.

Incorporating new habits will have a more lasting impact, such as weekly detoxification of the cells, regular fruit and vegetable juicing, and cutting out toxins like processed genetically modified food, BPA lined bottles and cans, fast food, artificial sweeteners, processed sugars, corn syrup, nitrates and bleached flour. Taste buds will change. The craving for salty fries will melt away to an addiction for fresh orange and carrot juice. Spinach and kale salads will replace a processed macaroni dinner. The sight of McDonald's will nauseate and farmer's markets will become a safe haven.

There is a way out, there is hope for an obese population. It starts in the mind. Do you want to change? It does not include sitting back, popping a pill, and expecting something great to happen. There's got to be more initiative than that. There's got to be an ambition to be all that one can be, and it's got to come deep from within.

Sources for this article include:

http://theweek.com

http://www.dailymail.co.uk

http://www.forbes.com

http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html

http://www.bioworld.com