Acomplia (Generic Rimonabant)
This drug has been suspended and is not longer available for prescription.
Acomplia (generic name Rimonabant) is a prescription drug for the treatment of obesity. Acomplia has been approved in the EU for the treatment of patients with a BMI (body mass index) greater than 30, and patients with a BMI in excess of 27, if they also have type 2 diabetes or high blood cholesterol levels. Acomplia has not yet been approved by the FDA in the US, as there are concerns that the drug may give rise to suicidal tendencies or thoughts in patients who are suffering from depression. The latest studies indicate that up to 10% of users may suffer from psychiatric side effects. It has therefore been recommended within the EU that Acomplia is only prescribed to patients who are not suffering from depression.
Acomplia has not yet been approved for the assisting in quitting smoking, although it is thought to offer assistance in this regard.
Acomplia works by blocking the activation of CB1 receptors in the nerve cells - it is a CB1 endocanniboid receptor antagonist. The CB1 receptors, when activated, are related to appetite and possibly also addictions. So treatment with acomplia leads to weight loss and may help people to stop smoking (although its use has not been approved for this purpose) and reduce cocaine consumption. However, the drug does act on the central nervous system and a reported side effect of the drug is severe depression.
Positive side effects of acomplia include:
- Improving blood lipid levels
- Helping to control the blood sugar levels in diabetics
- Possibly enhanced short term memory - this was seen in an experiment in rats.
This drug is also marketed under the following brand names: Zimulti, Riobant, Rimoslim and Slimona.
Are there any alternatives or rivals?
Taranabant, a rival slimming drug developed by Merck, is coming to the end of the Phase III clinical trials. Taranabant is part of the same class of drugs as rimonabant - it is a CB-1 receptor inverse agonist.
Although in the clinical trials to date it has helped with weight loss, there has still been an indication of psychiatric side effects. Nevertheless, Merck plans to file for FDA approval of taranabant during 2008. The company is currently trying to find a dose of the drug that leads to weight loss whilst minimising the psychiatric side effects.