Thread: Diet Pill Rimonabant Linked to Four Suicides

I read the news article MSNBC and it was really alarming. Apparently, the diet pill called Rimonabant was considered a wonder drug for helping people improve their cholesterol. blood glucose levels, lose their weight, etc since it was approved in Europe in 2007. This drug was not licensed in the United States, but was sold in Europe as Slimona Riobant, Acomplia, etc.

Here's a quote from the article:

The trial wasn't testing the drug's weight loss benefits, but whether it might prevent heart problems. It was supposed to follow more than 18,000 patients in 42 countries for three years. Roughly half were given rimonabant while the other half were given a placebo.

After about a year, four people on rimonabant had killed themselves, versus one person in the placebo group. There were also nine attempted suicides in people on rimonabant, compared with five among those on placebo. At that point, the study was halted and the European Medicines Agency yanked its approval for the drug.

That's terrible. It doesn't matter what the benefits are. This drug should not be allowed to be released in the market.

I agree. Good thing they stopped the trail testing or other particpants might also be affected. They would be liable fort the 4 suicides right? If the participant signed some sort of waiver, then they would be off the hook.

So it was only released in Europe right? I agree with viktoria.. Your life is at risk if you use this.. It's definitely not worth it.

So taking this pill causes psychological issues in the future? I don't get it why they would do that. Does it cause depression for them to want to end their life?