Doctors plan to take legal action against the ban on the sale of weight-loss drugs containing amphetamines.
Anvisa decided today (4) to ban amphetamine-based slimming drugs from the market and maintain the use of sibutramine derivatives with restrictions.
Brasilia – Doctors intend to appeal to the courts against the decision by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) to prohibit the sale and use of amphetamine-based weight-loss drugs (amfepramone, femproporex, and mazindol), according to the vice-president of the Regional Council of Medicine of the Federal District, Dimitri Homar.
"They cannot take away the autonomy of the doctor and the patient. We, doctors, know what is good for the patient," said Homar, who is attending the Anvisa board meeting at the regulatory agency's headquarters.
According to him, with the withdrawal of these appetite suppressants, patients may end up seeking counterfeit medications. "We have no way to control what comes from outside the country illegally," he said, adding that the number of cases of diabetes and hypertension may also increase due to the ban.
The board of directors of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) decided today (4) to ban amphetamine-based slimming drugs from the market and maintain the use of sibutramine derivatives with restrictions.