What is lorcaserin (Belviq)? What is it used for?

Lorcaserin is an orally administered medication that promotes weight loss. It is used with diet and exercise in overweight adults with a weight-related medical problem or obese adults to lose weight and keep it off.Raloxifene powder

Lorcaserin is a serotonin 2C (5-HT2C) receptor agonist. Although the exact mechanism of action is not known, lorcaserin is thought to selectively stimulate 5-HT2C receptors in the hypothalamus, the area of the brain known to play a major role in regulating hunger and food intake. By activating these receptors, lorcaserin may decrease food consumption by decreasing appetite and making a person feel full even after eating less food than usual.

Lorcaserin was approved by the FDA in June, 2012. Use and distribution of lorcaserin is under strict control by the federal government as it has a potential for abuse and drug dependence. As such, lorcaserin is classified as a schedule IV controlled substance.
The recommended dose of lorcaserin is 10 mg administered by mouth twice a day. Lorcaserin may be taken without regard to meals. Lorcaserin should be discontinued in patients who fail to achieve at least a 5% weight loss by week 12 since these patients are not likely to experience meaningful weight loss with continued treatment.

Due to the potential risk for serotonin syndrome, a rare but serious disorder caused by abnormally high levels of serotonin, extreme caution should be exercised when using lorcaserin with certain medications. Examples include triptans (a type of medication used for treating migraine headaches), linezolid (Zyvox), tryptophan, lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith), tramadol (Ultram), St. John's Wort, dextromethorphan (a common over-the-counter medicine for treating colds and coughs), and various classes of commonly used antidepressants including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MOAIs).