Tags: diet drug, FDA, Qnexa, weight loss
OMG – New Diet Pill! Posted on February 27th, 2012
Apparently the FDA is concerned about a new diet drug that’s about to hit the market – without adequate testing! The new drug Qnexa is a combination if two existing drugs: phentermine, which is a psycho-stimulant (remember phen-phen!) and the epilepsy and migraine drug topiramate or Topomax. With 60 percent of Americans either overweight or obese, this drug could provide an option to bariatric surgery or the traditional diet and exercise route, not-to-mention a huge boon to the drug manufacturer. But like all other drugs, Qnexa has potential side effects especially to pregnant women, where studies show the use of topiramate during pregnancy increases the risk of “oral clefts” or cleft lip by a ratio of two to five. Drug manufacturers are pushing for the new drug to be released without further testing and, it looks like this could happen! Not a good idea in my opinion.
When are people going to realize that weight loss is not a mystery? My bestselling diet book The Body Knows Diet ~Cracking the Weight Loss Code, clearly defines the five components of successful weight loss – not one of them includes the use of drugs. It is scary to think of the lengths to which some people will go to lose weight, when simple guidelines will net results. Alas, many physicians are unaware that subclinical-low thyroid and imbalanced hormones are often the root of stubborn weight problems. Why not follow that trail on an individual patient basis? Unless habits are changed, testing done and simple guidelines followed, no drug will ever be a permanent solution to the weight loss game.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/18/health/fda-still-wary-of-diet-pills-side-effects.html