8 Frequently Asked Questions about a Belviq Class Action Lawsuit

Call a Belviq lawyer today to see if you meet the criteria for a Belviq lawsuit

​​​Belviq (generic name: lorcaserin) is a popular prescription weight-loss drug made by Eisai Inc. to help people experiencing obesity and weight-related health issues curb their hunger.  While it is not known exactly how Belviq works, the drug targets a hunger receptor in the brain and helps people fee full after easting smaller amounts of food and also seems to help people fee full longer.

Alarmingly, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety trial concluded that the drug could increase the risk of several different types of cancer, including pancreatic, lung, and colorectal cancer.  Those individuals who participated in the clinical trial reported certain types of cancer with some types occurring more frequently in the lorcaserin group, including pancreatic, colorectal, and lung.  As a result, the FDA issued a full Belviq recall in February 2020. In response, numerous Belviq lawsuits have been filed including a Belviq class action.
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If you or a loved one took Belviq, Belviq XR, or another brand of lorcaserin, and you were diagnosed with cancer, or other serious Belviq side effects, you may be entitled to file a Belviq lawsuit or be included in a Belviq class action lawsuit and receive compensation from the drug’s manufacturer. Fill out a free case review form to find out if you are owed money for damages and talk to a Belviq Lawsuit Lawyer about whether you meet the Belviq Lawsuit Criteria and are eligible for a Belviq lawsuit or to be a part of the Belviq class action lawsuit today at no charge.​  

Read on for answers to eight frequently asked questions about a Belviq Class action lawsuit.

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What Kind of Drug is Belviq?

​Belviq belongs to a class of drugs which includes Central Nervous System (CNS) Stimulants; Anorexiants; and Serotonin 5HT2C-Receptor Agonist.  The drug is used by certain overweight people, such as those who are obese or have weight-related medical problems. Losing weight and keeping it off can lessen the many health risks that come with obesity, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and a shorter life, among others. Belviq is thought to work by affecting a certain part of the brain that helps control your appetite.

Belviq was available by prescription in its original form and in an extended-release version, Belviq XR. Both versions are the subject of Belviq lawsuits. Arena Pharmaceuticals manufactures Belviq at its facility in Switzerland. Eisai Inc. marketed and distributed Belviq in the United States. Both companies are named defendants in lawsuits.

What Are the Belviq Side Effects?

The most common Belviq side effects include headache, dizziness and nausea. People with diabetes also commonly suffered hypoglycemia, back pain and cough. Other common Belviq side effects include:

• Back pain
• Constipation
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Musculoskeletal pain
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Peripheral edema
• Seasonal allergy
• Urinary tract infection
• Muscle spasms
• Stress

Does Belviq Cause Cancer?

​Weight-loss drugs are not known for their safety; unfortunately, Belviq is no exception resulting in a Belviq recall. In a five-year, double-blind study of 12,000 patients, those taking Belviq were more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than those taking a placebo (sugar pill). At the end of the five-years, the FDA found 7.1% of people in the placebo group developed cancer compared to 7.7% of people in the Belviq group who developed cancer.  The FDA stated, “A range of cancer types was reported, with several different types of cancers occurring more frequently in the lorcaserin group,” including:  Pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer; and Lung cancer.

What is the Risk in Taking Belviq?

​​​In February 2020, the FDA requested the Belviq Recall and for to Eisai pull all Belviq and Belviq XR products from the market due to Belviq Side Effects. Eisai has complied with this request. As a result, Belviq is no longer commercially available.

Why Did the FDA Recall Belviq?

​When the FDA announced the Belviq Recall it stated: "We are taking this action because we believe that the risks of lorcaserin outweigh its benefits based on our completed review of results from a randomized clinical trial assessing safety."

What Are the Legal Claims in a Belviq Lawsuit?

While the attorneys are still researching and reviewing the facts to determine all the claims to bring in a Belviq Lawsuit, two claims that will undoubtably be brought in these lawsuits are a defective design claim and a claim for the failure to warn of the risks of cancer. 

With a design defect, a drug manufacturer can be held strictly liable if: (1) the drug's chemical makeup posed a foreseeable risk; and (2) the drug was designed and administered as it was intended to be.  Evidence surfaced in early 2010 that Belviq caused cancer in rats and the FDA originally denied the drug's application for this reason.  Therefore, the defendants should have known that the "chemical makeup" increased the odds for getting cancer. With a failure to warn claim drug manufacturers are under a duty to warn doctors and medical providers of the drug's non-obvious hazards and inform them of ways to avoid these dangers. 

Physicians who prescribed Belviq to patients had no idea of the cancer risks or other Belviq Side Effects.  Had the defendant warned physicians they may have decided not to prescribe it to their patients and patients who knew of the risks may have decided to not take it. 

What Is the Criteria for a Belviq Lawsuit?

​If you took Belviq or its generic equivalent and were diagnosed with cancer, you should consider taking legal action against the drug’s manufacturer. If you meet these criteria, you may have a case and can file a belviq class action lawsuit.
   -Over the age of 18
   -Diagnosed with cancer after taking Belviq, Belviq XR, or another brand of lorcaserin
If a loved one took this weight loss drug and was diagnosed with cancer, you may also contact a Belviq Lawsuit Lawyer on their behalf about a Belviq class action lawsuit.  Call Belviq Lawyer Timothy L. Miles today (855-Tim-M-Law) for a free and confidential case evaluation.

What Can I Recover from a Belviq Lawsuit?

Every case is unique, but people who successfully file drug or medical device lawsuits can recover money for some of the following damages:
 
     • Past and future medical bills (including medication, hospital stays, and in-home care)
     • Pain and suffering
     • Lost wages
     • Loss of earning capacity
     • Funeral expenses (in the event of a loved one’s death)
 
Broadly speaking, a plaintiff in a Belviq lawsuit could be entitled to compensation for any past and future costs associated with their cancer diagnosis. ​

Call a Belviq lawsuit lawyer about a Belviq Lawsuit

​​​​​If you took Belviq and have been diagnosed with cancer, you could be owed significant compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages. You should speak with Belviq lawyer Timothy L. Miles as soon as possible to determine the best course of action including filing a Belviq class action lawsuit or an individual Belviq Lawsuit if you were diagnosed with cancer or experienced other severe Belviq side effects. 

These cases are time-sensitive, including the Belviq class action lawsuit, so do not wait. Fill out a case review form to receive a free, no-obligation case evaluation. It costs nothing to get started, a Belviq lawyer can explain the process and answer any questions you may have.  We take all cases on a contingency basis which means we do not get paid unless we win your case.  Call today and see what a Belviq Lawyer can do for you.

TIMOTHY L. MILES

Timothy L. Miles is a nationally recognized shareholder and consumer rights attorney raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Miles was recently selected by Martindale-Hubbell® and ALM as a 2023 Top Ranked Lawyer, 2023 Top Rated Litigator. and a 2023 Elite Lawyer of the South. Mr. Miles also maintains the AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, their highest rating for both legal ability and ethics. Mr. Miles is a member of the prestigious Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers: The National Trial Lawyers Association, a superb rated attorney by Avvo, a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by Premier Lawyers of America (2019) and recognized as a Distinguished Lawyer, Recognizing Excellence in Securities Law, by Lawyers of Distinction (2019). Mr. Miles has published over sixty articles on various issues of the law, including class actions, whistleblower cases, products liability, and more.