Drug Company sued over diet pills which left patients ‘suicidal’

Obese patients who took a diet pill which was supposed to reduce their appetite are suing the drug company as the pills apparently also had the side of effects of causing depression and even leading to some patients feeling suicidal.  The drug which is called Acomplia has been withdrawn after the government ordered the drug to be taken off the market about two years ago.

Sanofi-Aventis, the drug company which manufactured Acomplia is facing a group action by some of the more seriously affected patients which could cost more than £300,000.  The government ordered the drug to be withdrawn in January 2009 after the European Medicines Agency which is responsible for licensing the drug found that there had been some cases of suicide being reported amongst patients in international clinical trials.  Up to May this year the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency received 2,885 reports of adverse reactions to the drug.

Former Ministry of Defence civil servant Robert Johnson, 50, is one of the patients who, claims to have suffered serious side effects of the drug.  Mr Johnson was prescribed Acomplia in 2008 when his weight had reached 25 stone.  He however found when he took the drug he was hit with depression and suicidal feelings.  He said: "I was dominated by thoughts that I would be better off dead."

Bozena Michalowska-Howells a lawyer at the firm representing the patients said: "Our clients have suffered extreme depression which has had a great impact on their families and ability to work."  Sanofi Aventis are refusing to comment at this time.