lorcaserin (Belviq, Belviq XR)

Brand Names: Belviq, Belviq XR

Generic Name: lorcaserin

• What is lorcaserin (Belviq, Belviq XR)?
• What are the possible side effects of lorcaserin (Belviq, Belviq XR)?
• What is the most important information I should know about lorcaserin (Belviq, Belviq XR)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking lorcaserin (Belviq, Belviq XR)?
• How should I take lorcaserin (Belviq, Belviq XR)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Belviq, Belviq XR)?
• What happens if I overdose (Belviq, Belviq XR)?
• What should I avoid while taking lorcaserin (Belviq, Belviq XR)?
• What other drugs will affect lorcaserin (Belviq, Belviq XR)?
• Where can I get more information (Belviq, Belviq XR)?

Lorcaserin is used together with diet and exercise to treat obesity. Lorcaserin affects appetite signals in the brain, helping you feel full with smaller meals.

Lorcaserin is sometimes used to treat obesity that may be related to diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.

Lorcaserin will not treat any underlying health condition (such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure). Keep taking any other medications your doctor has prescribed to treat these conditions.

Lorcaserin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using lorcaserin and call your doctor at once if you have:

• unusual changes in mood or behavior, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;
• dry eyes, blurred vision;
• feelings of standing next to yourself or being outside of your body;
• memory problems, trouble concentrating;
• breast swelling (in women or men), nipple discharge;
• penis erection that is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours;
• heart problems--fast heart rate, trouble breathing, dizziness, ongoing weakness, or swelling in your arms, hands, legs, or feet;
• high levels of serotonin in the body--agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting; or
• severe nervous system reaction--very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out.

Common side effects may include:

• headache, dizziness, feeling tired;
• dry mouth, cough;
• nausea, constipation;
• back pain; or
• low blood sugar (in people with diabetes).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Do not use lorcaserin if you are pregnant. Weight loss during pregnancy can harm an unborn baby.

Serious drug interactions can occur when certain medicines are used together with lorcaserin. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all medicines you use now, and any medicine you start or stop using.

You should not use lorcaserin if you are allergic to it.

Do not use lorcaserin if you are pregnant. Weight loss during pregnancy can harm an unborn baby, even if you are overweight. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• diabetes;
• congestive heart failure;
• a heart valve disorder;
• slow heartbeats or heart block (especially 2nd or 3rd degree "AV block");
• sickle cell anemia;
• leukemia or myeloma;
• kidney or liver disease; or
• a physical deformity of the penis (such as Peyronie's disease).

In clinical studies, more people taking lorcaserin were diagnosed with cancer compared with people taking an inactive placebo. It is not clear whether lorcaserin actually causes cancer. Talk to your doctor about your own cancer risk while taking lorcaserin.

You should not breastfeed while using lorcaserin.

Lorcaserin is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

The regular tablet is usually taken 2 times per day. The extended-release tablet is taken only once per day. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Swallow the extended-release tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.

You may take lorcaserin with or without food.

You should lose at least 5% of your starting weight during the first 12 weeks of taking lorcaserin and eating a low calorie diet. Call your doctor if you do not lose at least 5% of your starting weight after taking the medicine for 12 weeks.

Lorcaserin is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, weight control, and possibly testing your blood sugar. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

Do not share lorcaserin with another person. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep track of your medicine. You should be aware if anyone is using it improperly or without a prescription.

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Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

Avoid taking cough and cold or allergy medications while taking lorcaserin.

Do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter weight-loss products without your doctor's advice.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect lorcaserin, especially:

• cabergoline;
• linezolid;
• lithium;
• St. John's wort;
• tramadol;
• tryptophan (also called L-tryptophan);
• any type of antidepressant;
• cold or cough medicine that contains dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant);
• erectile dysfunction medicine--avanafil, sildenafil, tadalafil, Cialis, Levitra, Viagra, and others;
• medicine to treat mental illness, anxiety, or a mood disorder; or
• a "triptan" migraine headache medicine--such as almotriptan, frovatriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan, Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, and others.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect lorcaserin. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Your pharmacist can provide more information about lorcaserin.

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