- Jul 16, 2001
- 17,965
- 140
- 106
Text
Women to Make Up 80% of Market..
The company recommends patients take multivitamins when using the drug, said Steve Burton, GlaxoSmithKline's vice president of weight control. Whether that would happen remains unclear: at least 47 percent of the people involved in trials of the drug did not take multivitamins as recommended, the FDA said.
Orlistat may also block some drugs, including cyclosporine, used to prevent rejection of kidney, liver and heart transplants. Orlistat shouldn't be taken with that drug, the FDA said.
Furthermore, just 35 percent of diabetes patients in a study correctly stated the drug was not appropriate for them to use, according to agency documents.
The regulatory agency also is concerned about increased potential for abuse or misuse of the prescription-free version of the drug, especially among bulimics or binge-eaters who could develop vitamin deficiencies due to chronic use of the drug.
There are at least four published reports of women suffering from bulimia using the prescription form of the drug as a purgative. An estimated 22 million people worldwide have used the drug.
"We believe there is a very low potential for misuse and abuse. But we need to be vigilant," Burton said.
Women to Make Up 80% of Market..
The company recommends patients take multivitamins when using the drug, said Steve Burton, GlaxoSmithKline's vice president of weight control. Whether that would happen remains unclear: at least 47 percent of the people involved in trials of the drug did not take multivitamins as recommended, the FDA said.
Orlistat may also block some drugs, including cyclosporine, used to prevent rejection of kidney, liver and heart transplants. Orlistat shouldn't be taken with that drug, the FDA said.
Furthermore, just 35 percent of diabetes patients in a study correctly stated the drug was not appropriate for them to use, according to agency documents.
The regulatory agency also is concerned about increased potential for abuse or misuse of the prescription-free version of the drug, especially among bulimics or binge-eaters who could develop vitamin deficiencies due to chronic use of the drug.
There are at least four published reports of women suffering from bulimia using the prescription form of the drug as a purgative. An estimated 22 million people worldwide have used the drug.
"We believe there is a very low potential for misuse and abuse. But we need to be vigilant," Burton said.
Facebook
Twitter