For more than a decade, the FDA refused to approve pharmaceutical obesity treatments based on a long history of ineffective, unsafe “weight-loss” drugs. Within the last three
years
the FDA has approved five obesity drugs onto
market
, due in large part to the $50 million Big Pharma lobby. Dangerous drug lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm highlight the severe dangers of these new diet drugs.
Nearly one in five deaths in the U.S. is associated with obesity, according to a new study from Columbia University. As the number of overweight and obese Americans continues to grow, we are putting ourselves at risk of serious and often fatal complications, such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and lipid problems. About 75% of American healthcare costs already stem from the eight obesity-related diseases.
The government is rightly taking steps to address this obesity epidemic; however,
pharmaceutical
intervention will do far more harm than good. First, there is no proof that drugs of any kind improve the complications of obesity, such as heart attacks and strokes. Second, the side effects of these drugs are immensely serious: suicidal thinking, cancer risk, and heart conditions just to name a few.
The FDA held fast for 13 years, refusing to approve any diet drugs after massive deaths and injuries from drugs like fen-phen. Immense pressure from Big Pharma, medical societies (funded by Big Pharma), and the U.S. Senate (lobbied by Big Pharma) pushed the FDA to approve new obesity drugs, however. Among them include
Saxenda
, which is merely a higher dose of the diabetes drug Victoza.
For the first time in history, in 2013, the American Medical Association declared obesity a disease. Unfortunately, this designation ignores the root causes of obesity and calls on Big Pharma to “treat” this newly-coined disease and its symptoms. Obese and overweight people will not benefit – and in
fact
will be seriously harmed – by new weight-loss drugs. The only sectors that will benefit are the pharmaceutical industry and medical institutions.
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The diet drug industry spent $60 million in the last five years to urge the FDA to approve its products. Aside from the very real adverse
effects
this will have on patients, it will also drive our healthcare costs sky-high as expensive drugs are prescribed and paid for by insurance.
Victoza and Pancreatic Cancer
Victoza, along with Januvia, Janumet and Byetta are associated with a significant risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. These drugs are prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes – a complication of obesity – and have been subject to massive injury lawsuits. The FDA has issued numerous warnings about these drugs to address the risk of pancreatic diseases, including cancer, hemorrhagic pancreatitis, and necrotizing pancreatitis, all of which are often fatal.
As mentioned, Saxenda (liraglutide) was approved for weight loss in 2014 and is a higher dose form of Victoza. Already, Victoza has been
labelled
the primary suspect in more than 345 deaths and 3,100 hospitalizations.
Saxenda
and Victoza are also linked to thyroid tumors, gallbladder disease, and heart rate increase.
Saxenda’s
manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, claims the drug will produce weight loss of about 5% after one year. Weight loss should be a result of improved health, however, not the endgame in itself. People suffering from obesity must lose weight as a result of better lifestyle factors. Losing weight through a pill will not improve health alone; to the contrary, it will likely worsen patient health.
Studies measuring the cardiovascular and cancer risks of Saxenda are still ongoing, with results expected in 2016. The FDA is taking the “wait and see” approach on serious heart conditions and cancer risk, all the while patients continue popping
Sandexa
.
Another weight loss drug recently approved, Belviq, is associated with heart valve problems. Neither the FDA nor Belviq’s manufacturer itself
know
if the drug changes
patient
risk of heart problems, stroke, or death. The study measuring the long-term cardiovascular safety of Belviq is expected to end in 2019.
That the FDA allows serious risk studies to be done after drugs go to market should concern everyone, not just those fighting obesity. That any harm is accepted at all is unacceptable, and routinely exposing patients to drugs that have not been properly studied is even more unconscionable.
It is worth repeating that losing 5% of body weight through diet and exercise is not equal to losing 5% of body weight through a drug. The beneficial improvements to cholesterol, blood pressure, heart disease
and
blood sugar are enacted only by lifestyle changes.
Diabetes Drugs do not Reduce Heart Conditions
Similarly, in December 2014, a study was published that found that none of the 30
type
2 diabetes drug approved in the last decade improved important health outcomes, like heart attacks and blindness. If they were told about the risks of cancer and heart attack from these drugs, most patients would choose to not take these drugs. Most patients, as it turns out, are not fully or even partially informed about diabetes and weight loss drug risks.
Patients are not told that studies measuring the actual, long-term risk of important adverse events are not conducted until after the drug is approved for market. They are not told that the risk of side effects
increase
the longer they take the drug. They are not told that the root cause of their obesity and diabetes cannot be cured by pharmaceuticals. They are not told that the largest contributor to obesity and diabetes is merely excess sugar and a sedentary lifestyle.
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Patients are also unaware that drug companies are fined millions and often billions of dollars each year for falsely marketing diabetes drug treatments. More on these diabetes drug topics can be found here and here.
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To date, more than 120 lawsuits have been filed against Victoza and Saxenda for pancreatic cancer development. These patients claim that if they had been properly warned about the risk of cancer they would not have chosen to take these drugs. Pancreatic cancer is extraordinarily hard to treat and is a leading cause of cancer death.
Conquering Obesity
Patients battling obesity and type 2 diabetes must read all labels carefully and thoroughly before taking any type of medication. Patients also need to be aware that excessive sugar acts as a poison in the body, contributing to obesity and other chronic and fatal diseases. Losing weight is difficult, but it should not focus on counting calories or excessively exercising. It is necessary to make a holistic, overall lifestyle change to beat obesity.
Obese, diabetic and overweight patients should focus on making proper food choices (whole, organic, unprocessed foods); switching to high-quality, organic animal foods; a comprehensive exercise program; optimizing vitamin intake; stress reduction; avoidance of chemicals, toxins and pollutants; increasing water intake; and restorative sleep.
The dangerous drug lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm have been fighting on behalf of patients seriously harmed by Big Pharma for 30 years. We represent clients and their families nationwide, helping them gain compensation for their pain and suffering. Our legal consultations are always free of charge.
Call or text 800-934-6555 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
