Belviq® (lorcaserin)

●      Brandname: Belviq®

●      Generic: lorcaserin

●      Uses: Long-term weight management

●      How it works: Decreases appetite and the feeling of being hungry

●      Common side effects: Headache, dizziness, drowsiness, feeling tired, nausea, constipation, dry mouth, cough or back pain.

●      Serious side effects: Unusual thoughts or behavior, feelings of extreme happiness or sadness, agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting.

●      Who cannot use this medication: pregnancy, breast-feeding, elderly, infants, diabetes, depression, heart failure, anemia, leukemia, liver disease, kidney failure, MAOI therapy (i.e. Phenelzine, Tranylcypromine, Isocarboxazid, Selegiline).

●      Dose: Available as 10 mg-film coated tablets

○    1 tablet by mouth twice daily

●      Package insert: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2012/022529lbl.pdf

●      Reference:

○    Clinical pharmacology website. http://clinicalpharmacology-ip.com/Forms/drugoptions.aspx?cpnum=3771&n=Belviq. Accessed Sep 28, 2012.

○    Lexi comp website http://online.lexi.com/lco/action/doc/retrieve /docid/patch_f/3808862. Accessed Sep 28, 2012.

○    Drug Information Online. http://www.drugs.com/belviq.html. Accessed Sep 28, 2012.