belviq

Belviq (lorcaserin) affects chemicals in the brain that affect appetite.

Belviq is used together with diet and exercise to treat obesity.

Belviq is sometimes used to treat obesity that may be related to diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.

Belviq will not treat any underlying condition you have (such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure). Keep taking any other medications your doctor has prescribed to treat these conditions.

Important information

You should not use Belviq if you are allergic to lorcaserin, or if you are pregnant.

Before you take Belviq, tell your doctor if you have diabetes, congestive heart failure, a heart valve disorder, sickle cell anemia, leukemia or myeloma, kidney or liver disease, or a physical deformity of the penis (such as Peyronie"s disease).

Weight loss during pregnancy can harm an unborn baby, even if you are overweight. Do not use Belviq if you are pregnant. You should not breast-feed while you are using lorcaserin. Belviq may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person for whom it was prescribed. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

Do not take Belviq in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended

Tell your doctor if you do not lose at least 5% of your starting weight after taking the medication for 12 weeks.

Belviq is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, weight control, and possibly testing your blood sugar.

There are many other drugs that can interact with Belviq. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Belviq if you are allergic to lorcaserin, or if you are pregnant.

To make sure you can safely take Belviq, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• diabetes;

• congestive heart failure;

• a heart valve disorder;

• sickle cell anemia;

• leukemia or myeloma;

• kidney or liver disease; or

• a physical deformity of the penis (such as Peyronie"s disease).

Belviq may be habit forming and should be used only by the person for whom it was prescribed. Never share Belviq with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.

FDA pregnancy category X. Weight loss during pregnancy can harm an unborn baby, even if you are overweight. Do not use Belviq if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether lorcaserin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using Belviq. Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 years old without medical advice.

See also: Pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

How should I take Belviq?

Take Belviq exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

The usual dose of Belviq is 1 tablet 2 times each day. Follow your doctor"s instructions.

You may take Belviq with or without food.

You should lose at least 5% of your starting weight during the first 12 weeks of taking Belviq and eating a low calorie diet. Tell your doctor if you do not lose at least 5% of your starting weight after taking the medication for 12 weeks.

Belviq is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, weight control, and possibly testing your blood sugar. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

Store Belviq at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Belviq is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.

Do not share Belviq with another person. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include severe forms of some of the side effects listed in this medication guide.

What should I avoid?

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter weight-loss products without your doctor"s advice.

Avoid taking cough and cold or allergy medications while taking Belviq.

Belviq side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives to Belviq; difficult breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Belviq and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• unusual thoughts or behavior, feelings of extreme happiness or sadness;

• feelings of standing next to yourself or being outside of your body;

• thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;

• agitation, hallucinations, fever, rapid heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting;

• very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out;

• trouble breathing, slow heart rate;

• feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

• swelling in your hands or feet;

• pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, trouble concentrating;

• body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat;

• low blood sugar (headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, confusion, irritability, dizziness, or feeling jittery);

• breast swelling (in women or men), nipple discharge; or

• penis erection lasting longer than 4 hours.

Less serious Belviq side effects may include:

• headache;

• dizziness, drowsiness, feeling tired;

• nausea, constipation;

• dry mouth, cough; or

• back pain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Belviq?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

• cabergoline (Dostinex);

• ADHD medication;

• cold or cough medicine that contains dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant);

• erectile dysfunction medicine such as sildenafil (Viagra), avanafil (Stendra), tadalafil (Cialis, Adcirca), or vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn);

• heart or blood pressure medication;

• insulin or oral diabetes medications;

• medicine to treat a psychiatric disorder;

• narcotic pain medication;

• St. John"s wort;

• tryptophan (also called L-tryptophan);

• an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), linezolid (Zyvox), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate);

• an SNRI antidepressant such as duloxetine (Cymbalta) or venlafaxine (Effexor);

• an SSRI antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Rapiflux, Sarafem, Selfemra, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), sertraline (Zoloft), or vilazodone (Viibryd);

• other antidepressants such as bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban) or trazodone (Desyrel, Oleptro); or

• migraine headache medicine such as almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet) or zolmitriptan (Zomig).

There may be other drugs that can interact with Belviq. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.