Should drugs be approved if one of the side effects is suicide?
ASKED by penny on June 25, 2008 - 5:58am
Saw this story on bbc.com about Rimonabant -- a controversial weight-loss drug that was approved by the Britain's NHS. The drug has apparently been linked to an increased risk of depression and suicide especially among those already taking anti-depressants.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7471784.stm
The story got me thinking about whether drugs that have death or suicide as a side effect should be approved? If so, does the patient and doctor assume all risks associated with the drug? Should a drug not be approved to protect a few with high risk factors?
Comments
One problem is that many people who commit suicide are on no medication. So those that are on meds may commit suicide anyway. Those who are taking weight loss pills may already be depressed about their health. Many heavy people I know are depressed about their weight, and a pill that increases the risks is not for them.
It's my belief that weight loss drugs don't work. People don't over eat because they are hungry. Many times it has nothing to do with their body, it has to do with their mind - emotional eating. So once the weight is lost and the pills are over with, the over eating will begin once again unless the person figures out WHY they over eat and learn to work and control that part.
This is why people literally eat through their gastric bands! Their body isn't telling them to eat - their brain is! And they take their drugs and get gastric surgery when all that does it work with the symptoms, not the cause. It is a tiny band-aid on a gaping wound.
I don't think any weight loss pill is worth it, if there is a risk of suicide.
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