NATIONAL — The prescription weight-loss drug called Belviq is being recalled after the FDA said clinical trials showed it increased the risk of cancer.
- Weight-loss drug lorcaserin recalled
- FDA says drug increases risk of cancer
- More from FDA on recall
According to the 2012 study, 12,000 patients took part in the trial over five years. A range of cancer types were found among the patients, occurring more frequently in the lorcaserin group, including pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers.
On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration warned people not to take the drug, which has the generic name of lorcaserin.
"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," the FDA says on its website.
The drug manufacturer, Eisai Inc., agreed to pull the drug and stop sales.
Health officials say it's worth talking to your doctor about, but you likely will not need any special cancer screenings.
If you have any unused pills, officials say to dispose of them.