Boston (eCanadaNow) - A study has found that weight-loss drugs used by 40,000 people in Britain increase the risk of depression, as well as sparking suicidal thoughts.

The weight loss drug is called Acomplia and launched about a year and a half ago.  The pill was taken daily and many believed it was the key to weight loss as two out of every five who took it had lost 10% of their initial weight.

New evidence though is showing that Acomplia causes some damaging side effects such as irritability, nervousness, sleep disorder, and mood anxiety.

It is also linked to depression and suicidal thoughts.

The U.S. FDA voted not to approve the drug for sale due to concerns over the increased suicide risk related to the drug.

A review was done on Acomplia and published in The Lancet medical journal.  It stated that those who took Acomplia had a 40% higher chance of being injured or harmed by "adverse events or serious adverse events."

:"Our findings suggest that 20mg per day of rimonabant (Acomplia) increases the risk of psychiatric events - depressed mood disorders and anxiety - despite depressed mood being an exclusion criterion in these trials."