Belviq Information and Uses

Belviq

Belviq Overview

Belviq (generic: lorcaserin) is a prescription weight loss medicine used to treat obese or overweight adults who have at least one medical problem related to their weight. It is believed that Belviq decreases appetite and makes you feel full faster by binding to, and activating certain serotonin receptors in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, a chemical in the brain, that has various functions. These include the regulation of mood, appetite, sleep, as well as other functions.

This medication comes in tablet form which is taken by mouth, twice a day, with or without food.

The most common side effects are headache, dizziness, and tiredness.

Uses of Belviq

Belviq is a prescription weight loss medication for obese or overweight adults who have at least one weight related medical problem such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. Belviq is intended to be used with a low-calorie diet and exercise.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Side Effects of Belviq

Belviq may cause serious side effects. See "Drug Precautions".

The most common side effects of Belviq include:

headache
dizziness
fatigue
nausea (upset stomach)
dry mouth
diarrhea
constipation
cough
low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in patients with diabetes
back pain
upper respiratory tract infection
symptoms of the common cold

This is not a complete list of Belviq side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Belviq Interactions

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

medicines for depression
migraine medicines such as triptans
medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders, including tricyclics, lithium, selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), or antipsychotics
cabergoline
linezolid, an antibiotic
tramadol
dextromethorphan, an over-the-counter medicine used to treat the common cold or cough

Belviq Precautions

Do not take Belviq if you are allergic to any ingredient in it. See "Forms of Medication".

Do not take Belviq if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It may harm your unborn baby.

Call your doctor right away if you have any mental changes that are new, worse, or worry you such as sudden changes in mood, behaviors, thoughts or feelings.

Belviq may cause serious side effects, including rare, but serious conditions known as Serotonin Syndrome and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)-like reactions. Call your doctor right away if you start to have any of the following symptoms while taking Belviq:

mental changes such as agitation, hallucinations, confusion, or other changes in mental status
coordination problems, uncontrolled muscle spasms, or muscle twitching (overactive reflexes)
restlessness
racing or fast heart beat, high or low blood pressure
sweating or fever
nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
muscle rigidity (stiff muscles)

Belviq may cause heart valve problems. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while taking Belviq:

trouble breathing
swelling of the arms, legs, ankles, or feet
dizziness, fatigue, or weakness that will not go away
fast or irregular heartbeat

Taking Belviq in high doses may cause mental problems such as:

hallucinations
feeling high or in a very good mood (euphoria)
feelings of standing next to yourself or out of your body (disassociation)

Weight loss can cause low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus who also take medicines used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (such as insulin or sulfonylureas). You should check your blood sugar before you start taking Belviq and while you take Belviq.

Belviq can cause painful erections that last more than 6 hours. If you have an erection lasting more than 4 hours whether it is painful or not, stop using Belviq and call your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Belviq may cause your heart to beat slower. Tell your doctor if you have a history of your heart beating slow or heart block or if you feel dizzy or lightheaded during treatment.

Belviq may cause your red and white blood cell count to decrease. Your doctor may monitor your blood cell count while you are taking Belviq.

Belviq may increase the amount of a certain hormone your body makes called prolactin. Tell your doctor if your breasts begin to a milky discharge or if your breasts begin to increase in size, especially if you are a male.

Belviq can cause slowed thinking and problems with attention. Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or perform activities that require mental alertness until you know how Belviq affects you.

Belviq Food Interactions

Follow dietary (food) recommendations made by your doctor and dietitian which should include a healthy diet. There are no specific foods to avoid while taking Belviq.

Inform MD

Before you receive Belviq, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions including if you:

have heart problems such as congestive heart failure, heart valve problems, slow heart beat or heart block
have diabetes
have a condition such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia
have a deformed penis, Peyronie’s disease, or ever had an erection that lasted more than 4 hours
have kidney problems
have liver problems

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Belviq and Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Belviq should not be used during pregnancy. Women should not try to lose weight during pregnancy, even obese or overweight women.

Belviq and Lactation

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known in Belviq is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.

Belviq Usage

Belviq comes as a tablet to be taken by mouth, with or without food. It is usually taken twice a day. Try to take your doses at the same time each day. Take Belviq exactly as prescribed. Do not take more than your doctor prescribes.

Your doctor will start you on a diet and exercise program when you start taking Belviq. This is very important. You should stay on this program while you are taking Belviq.

Your doctor should tell you to stop taking Belviq if you do not lose a certain amount of weight within the first 12 weeks of treatment.

Belviq Dosage

Take Belviq exactly as prescribed. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. The recommended Belviq dose is 10 mg twice daily.

Belviq Overdose

If you take too much Belviq, call your local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Forms of Belviq

Belviq is available as 10 mg film-coated tablets.

Active Ingredient: lorcaserin hydrochloride

Inactive Ingredients: silicified microcrystalline cellulose; hydroxypropyl cellulose NF; croscarmellose sodium NF; colloidal silicon dioxide NF; polyvinyl alcohol USP; polyethylene glycol NF; titanium dioxide USP; talc USP; FD&C Blue #2 aluminum lake; and magnesium stearate NF.