Belviq (lorcaserin) increases risk of mitral regurgitation 2-fold

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Saturday, November 01, 2014 12:34 pm Email this article

Belviq (lorcaserin), a weight loss drug, was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of moderate or greater mitral regurgitation after one-year of drug use according to a paper looking at side effects of the drug written by James DiNicolantonio, PharmD and others.

“Despite the fact that the lorcaserin package insert states that it does not cause a significant increase in FDA-defined valvulopathy, defined as mitral regurgitation greater than mild or aortic regurgitation greater than trace (pooled relative risk (RR) of the phase 3 echocardiographic data: 1.16; 95% CI 0.81 to 1.67), a look at the FDA Medical Review states that lorcaserin causes a significant increase in moderate or greater mitral regurgitation at week 52 (RR 1.95; 95% CI 1.05 to 3.59, p value not stated) and (RR 1.88; 95% CI 1.02 to 3.47, p=0.04) based on our forest plot) (figure 1),” the paper notes.

“These data were based on a meta-analysis of three randomised controlled trials testing lorcaserin 10 mg twice daily versus placebo.”

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)