Today a review of the prescription-only slimming medicine Reductil has recommended it’s product license be revoked throughout Europe. Evidence suggests that there is an increased risk of non-fatal heart attacks and strokes with this medicine that outweighs the benefits of weight loss, which is modest and may not be sustained in the long term after stopping treatment. It’s marketing authorisation has already been revoked in the UK.
Prescribers are advised not to issue any new prescriptions for Reductil and to review the treatment of patients taking the drug. Pharmacists are asked to cease dispensing the medicine. People who are currently taking Reductil are advised to make a routine appointment with their doctor to discuss alternative measures to lose weight. There are no health implications if people wish to stop treatment before seeing their doctor.
Reductil is one of only three drugs for obesity listed in the BNF (British National Formulary), which is the UK guide for prescribing drugs on the NHS. This now leaves only two drugs as recommended, Rimonabant (Accomplia) which acts on the cannabis receptors in the brain, and Orlistat (Xenical) which reduces fat absorption in the gut. Orlistat is also available as the pharmacy-only medicine Alli (See our video on how it works).
Slimming drugs are regulated to be prescription-only if they work by altering brain chemistry or having a metabolic effect on the body. However, altering brain chemistry has not shown itself to be the answer to obesity. In my 40 years working in pharmacy I have seen many prescription-only slimming drugs come and then watched them go. They have all claimed to be safe and effective when launched, but have then shown themselves not to be the answer to the problem of being overweight. In other words, popping a pill doesn’t make you slim, but changing your lifestyle can.
Author : Colin Winstanley
