A proposed new weight-loss drug, Qnexa, is too dangerous to be approved, Sidney Wolfe, M.D., director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group, told an FDA advisory committee recently.
Qnexa is a combination of two older drugs, phentermine and topiramate, each of which has significant risks, according to Wolfe. One is an amphetamine; the other, an anti-seizure medication.
Phentermine affects many different organ systems, including the neurologic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal. It increases heart rate and blood pressure, heightens wakefulness, and decreases appetite.
Studies of topiramate show that cognition is impaired in people who take the drug, particularly regarding attention, memory, and language. The same is seen with Qnexa.
Qnexa carries a long list of serious side effects. Adverse events were the major reason patients failed to complete the trials of the drug, says Wolfe.
See “Weight Loss Drug Too Dangerous to Be Allowed on Market” for more information.
