Belviq

drug

Also known as: lorcaserin hydrochloride

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July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

Belviq (lorcaserin) was a prescription drug approved in 2012 for weight loss. It worked by decreasing cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods by stimulating serotonin release. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed Belviq from the market on February 13, 2020, due to a potential cancer risk. The FDA determined that the risks associated with lorcaserin outweighed its benefits, based on clinical trial safety data. Obesity itself is a condition characterized by the excessive accumulation of body fat, often due to consuming more calories than the body uses. It is a significant public health issue, with global rates increasing substantially since the 1980s.12

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obesity
Treatment of obesity
Two of them are Belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride) and Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate). Belviq decreases obese individuals’ cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods by stimulating the release of serotonin, which normally is triggered by carbohydrate intake. Qsymia leverages the weight-loss side effects of topiramate, an
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Two of them are Belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride) and Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate). Belviq decreases obese individuals’ cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods by stimulating the release of serotonin, which normally is triggered by carbohydrate intake. Qsymia leverages the weight-loss side effects of topiramate, an
Read More