This recommendation comes in the light of a possible increase in the risk of serious psychiatric problems and even suicide associated with the use of the drug. The call comes from the European Medicines Agency (EMEA). The body says that because at-risk patients cannot be identified, marketing of the drug should be suspended.
Around 97 000 people in the UK who are obese or overweight have been prescribed rimonabant, which is used in conjunction with diet and exercise. And approximately 20 000 are currently taking the drug. It was approved for use by the NHS watchdog in England and Wales in June this year.
There have always been concerns about an increased risk of psychiatric problems associated with the drug and doctors were warned not to give the drug to patients with a history of depression, and to look out for new symptoms of depression in patients taking the drug.
But data from more recent studies, and from Sanofi-Aventis itself, has shown there is around double the risk of psychiatric disorders in obese or overweight patients taking rimonabant compared to those taking placebo. And between June and August 2008, there were five suicides among patients taking part in a trial who were on the drug, compared with one among those taking placebo.
The EMEA also says that the drug is in fact less effective than clinical trials suggest because patients tend to only take it for a short period.
