Anti-obesity drug causes depression: Study

SCARY PILL? While the FDA does not approve the drugs, the drugs controller of India approves them.

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New Delhi: It may help lower your mark on the weighing scale but it could also leave you feeling low.

Rimonabant, an anti obesity drug, sold in India under the brand names Riobant and Rimoslim, is known to cause severe depression and anxiety.

"The drugs act by reduction in appetite through a set of neurochemicals which also affect your mood state. There can be a close link between the two," says psychologist, Fortis, Dr Sameer Malhotra.

While the FDA does not approve the drugs, the Drugs controller of India approves them.

A recent study published in the journal Lancet reports that these drugs could cause severe psychiatric symptoms.

Experts add that obese patients are in general more prone to depression and they may suffer from lack of self confidence and other body image disorders.

These drugs may actually accentuate these disorders.

"At times there is also a close association between depression and eating disorders. One needs to carefully look into the underlying issues," says Dr Malhotra.

So why is this drug still around?

Some doctors insist that while it is known to cause severe side effects in about 20 per cent of patients, there are others who benefit from it.

"If the patients using the drugs are allowed to select them carefully and made aware of possible side effects still have a place of treatment in obesity because they do help significant proportion of patients,” says Endocrinologist, Apollo, Dr Ambrish Mithal.

Apart from Rimonabant, there are other anti obesity drugs like Sibutramine which is also known to cause side effects like depression and anxiety but, to a much lesser extent.

So if you have been put on any of these drugs, it's a good idea to crosscheck with your doctor if there are any alternatives that you could go for.

And while lifestyle changes may take longer than just popping in a pill to lose weight, they are definitely a healthier and safer approach.