Should the Same Safety Scrutiny of Antiobesity Medications be Applied to Other Chronic Usage Drugs?

Abstract

Obesity treatment is highly stigmatized, mainly because of the stigma of obesity itself. The frequent withdrawal of medications, lorcaserin being the last example, contributes to this stigma, but it is also probably a reflection of it, as data suggest that the threshold for a withdrawal is lower than with other classes of drugs. Safety should always be an absolute priority for every new medication, especially when used on a chronic basis; however, the safety scrutiny given to antiobesity medications is not given for other medications, such as postmenopausal hormone therapy and central nervous system drugs for psychiatric use. The withdrawal of medications for obesity can also impact future research in the area, so we need transparency and equality. Transparency in knowing exactly what reason led to a drug being discontinued and equality in long-term safety should be a concern with any medication prescribed for chronic diseases.