Belviq (lorcaserin) increases risk of primary pulmonary hypertension 1.4-fold

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Saturday, November 01, 2014 12:50 pm Email this article

Belviq (lorcaserin), a weight loss drug, was associated with a 1.4-fold increased risk of ‘possible’ primary pulmonary hypertension according to a paper looking at side effects of the drug written by James DiNicolantonio, PharmD and others.

The difference was not statistically significant. The p-value was 0.16, meaning that there was a 16% chance that this difference was due to random chance and an 84% chance that the difference was due to the drug.

“Lastly, there may be an increase in ‘possible’ primary pulmonary hypertension with lorcaserin,” the paper notes.

“Indeed, data derived from a pooled analysis of both BLOOM and BLOSSOM (n=3470), using a 35 mm Hg or greater increase in systolic arterial pulmonary pressure as a cut-off for ‘possible’ primary pulmonary hypertension, yield an increased risk with lorcaserin versus placebo (OR 1.41; 95% CI 0.87 to 2.27, p=0.16). Although not a statistically significant finding, primary pulmonary hypertension is a very serious clinical adverse effect with a high mortality rate, and thus any possibility of an increased risk should be taken seriously.”

Reference

DiNicolantonio JJ, Chatterjee S, O’Keefe JH, and Meier P. Lorcaserin for the treatment of obesity? A closer look at its side effects. Open Heart, 2014; 1(1): http://openheart.bmj.com/content/1/1/e000173.full.

Author’s Contact Info

James J. DiNicolantonio, PharmD
Associate Editor BMJ Open Heart
Cardiovascular Research Scientist
Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute
http://www.saintlukeshealthsystem.org/dinicolantonio
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/James_Dinicolantonio
https://twitter.com/jjdinicol
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Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride)