If you have extra Belviq or Belviq XR pills, you should take the medication to a drug take back location in your local area. The FDA provides a list of drug take back programs, including permanent drop-off locations and periodic events. You should not take Belviq to a donation and reuse program, since it is a recalled drug.
How to Dispose of Belviq Pills
While they operate across the United States, drug take back programs are not available in all locations. If you can’t get to one of these disposal locations, it is possible to throw Belviq away in your regular trash can. Take the following steps to dispose of the drug safely at home.
- First, mix the pills with some sort of unappealing substance. This can be sand, dirt, used coffee grounds, or cat litter. You should not crush the Belviq pills.
- Next, place the pill-substance mixture into a resealable plastic bag. Seal the bag tightly.
- Finally, throw away the bag in your household trash.
If you have any pill bottles or prescription labels for Belviq, make sure to remove all personal information before you throw them away or take them to a recycling location. You can use a permanent marker to cross off details on the labels, or peel the stickers from the bottles and shred them.
Why Do You Need to Dispose of Belviq Pills?
After Belviq’s initial approval, the FDA asked Eisai, Inc. to complete a five-year study on its cardiovascular risks. Many weight loss drugs have heart-related side effects, and the purpose of the study was to identify if any of these risks were present in Belviq and Belviq XR patients.
While the study’s results did not indicate that Belviq raises patients’ risk of adverse cardiovascular events, another shocking statistic emerged: 7.7% of Belviq patients developed colorectal, pancreatic, and lung cancer after taking the drug. In contrast, 7.1% of patients in the placebo group developed cancer.
To the average person, the 0.6% percent difference does not seem significant. However, the FDA recognized that a drug that may raise patients’ risk of cancer is dangerous to have on the market, and requested that Eisai Inc. recall the drug.
Should You File a Belviq Lawsuit?
Many victims of Belviq-related cancer are filing lawsuits to recover compensatory damages for their losses. If you developed colorectal, lung, or pancreatic cancer within seven years after taking this medication, you may be eligible for compensation under one of these lawsuits.
The first step to filing a lawsuit is to hire a Belviq cancer attorney who specializes in dangerous and defective drugs, is currently working on Belviq litigation, and has the resources necessary to handle your claim. Your attorney can provide several benefits for your claim, from expert witnesses to knowledge of the claims process in your state. Contact a Belviq lawyer as soon as possible to begin the process. Shapiro Legal Group serves clients nationwide and can help you file a Belviq lawsuit in all 50 states.