Contrave Approved-New Diet Drug with Deadly Side Effects

Contrave may have a new name but its ingredients and side effects are well known. It is a combination of two older drugs, Wellbutrin and Naltrexone. Wellbutrin is an antidepressant and Naltrexone is used for addictions. Both drugs, as a side effect, cause weight loss in patients. The problem with almost every weight loss drug passed into the marketplace, is that is has dangerous side effects that only show up later. The drug is then recalled for deadly heart problems only after thousands suffered needlessly.

Recent Diet Drug Disasters.

In France, the diet drug Mediator was banned last year after killing 2,000 patients and causing heart problems in at least 3500 more. It took years for the government to do the right thing and recall it.

Meridia was banned finally in the USA, Canada, and Australia only after many deaths and verified heart complications to thousands.

In October, two new drug applications were rejected over similar health concerns. Those drugs rejected were Qnexa and Lorcaserin.

FDA Clears Diet Drug For Sale: An FDA panel this week gave their approval for Contrave despite deadly side effects. They also voted to keep studying the drug and its side effects for further evaluation. That means that anyone taking it in the future will be a guinea pig, an experiment to see what other side effects show up.

Side Effects Associated With Wellbutin and Naltrexone: High blood pressure is one of the major side effects which give you a higher risk for heart attacks and stroke. This means your risk of death is increased dramatically. A stroke or heart attack if it does not kill you right off, often leaves you with permanent impaired compromised health or bed ridden. This is a life threatening side effect. Increased seizures in patients with no problems before were also experienced by patients in these clinical trials. Nausea, headaches, constipation, and increased pulse were more side effects commonly experienced by the patients.

Is Contrave Worth The Side Effects? In the Contrave clinical trial, 40 percent of the patients dropped out because of the nasty side effects. According to clinical trial standards, the new drug is supposed to give greater than 5 percent success over the placebo group to be considered effective. The percentage was only 4.2 percent over the placebo group. It did pass the second criteria which was that patients should lose over 5 percent of their body weight, but at what cost to their heart?

Weight loss with Contrave Is Not Long Term: The researchers also stated that they felt unless the patient stayed on the drug, the weight lost would be regained. So to keep the weight off, you must stay on Contrave, which is not proven to be safe but is proven to cause greater risk for heart problems and seizures. Somehow that does not seem like much progress toward a healthier life and increased longevity. You may lose weight, but only 4 to 9 percent, but increase your risk dramatically to die from heart related side effects. You may really want to rethink that decision.

Weight Loss Should Be a Lifestyle: Your program to lose weight should not be focused on a dangerous drug but lifestyle changes that will lead to permanent weight loss, the ability to maintain that weight loss, and a healthier life and lifestyle. Don't play the diet drug risk game. Visit a dietitian or nutritionist to get real help for the end goal of true health.

References:

www.drugrecalls.com/meridia.html

www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090608/contrave-new-weight-loss-drug-advances

www.associatedcontent.com/article/5953684/glaxosmithkline_fined_for_corrupted.html

www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20024979-10391704.html

www.associatedcontent.com/article/2675231/new_miracle_diet_pill_emerges_as_meridia.html