At the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, investigators presented details of their studies with rimonabant (trade name: Acomplia) - the first of a new class of drugs (selective CB1 blockers) aimed at helping with weight loss and smoking cessation. CB1 blockers act on the endocannabinoid system (the EC system), a natural system that modulates the body’s energy balance and nicotine dependence. An over-stimulated EC system is thought to play a role in obesity and in tobacco dependence, and CB1 blockers are supposed to reduce this overstimulation. In a press release 3 weeks before, the makers of rimonabant (Sanofi-Synthelabo,) indicated that the studies were favorable.

Data from two studies with rimonabant were reported. In the first, called the Stratus-US study, the drug’s effect on smoking cessation was evaluated. In the study, 787 smokers (average of 23 cigarettes per day) were randomized to receive either placebo, or rimonabant in doses of either 5 mg or 20 mg per day. The patients received the study drugs for 10 weeks. They were permitted to continue smoking for the first 2 weeks, but were instructed to attempt to quit smoking on Day 15. The number of patients who had not smoked during the last 4 weeks of the 10 week period were tabulated. Of patients who took 20 mg of rimonabant, 36% had quit smoking. Of patients who took either placebo or 5 mg rimonabant, only 20% successfully quit. Further, of those patients who quit smoking, the ones taking either placebo or 5 mg rimonabant gained 84% more weight than those taking 20 mg rimonabant. Thus, rimonabant at 20 mg per day significantly increased the rate of successfully quitting smoking, and also greatly reduced post-smoking-cessation weight gain.

In the second study (the RIO-Lipids study,) 1036 patients who were either overweight or obese and who had blood lipid disorderswere also randomized to one of three groups (placebo vs. 5 mg/day or 20 mg/day rimonabant). After 1 year of treatment, patients receiving 20 mg rimonabant lost an average of about 20 pounds of weight, compared to 5 pounds for patients on placebo. Further, patients receiving 20 mg rimonabant had significant improvements (compared to placebo) in waist circumference, HDL levels, triglyceride levels, CRP levels, and insulin sensitivity. For patients with metabolic syndrome at baseline (which included about 50% of the study population), half of those taking 20 mg rimonabant no longer had metabolic syndromeat the end of the study.

The drug was said to be well tolerated. The only relatively common side effects were mild GI side effects and dizziness, and these were said to be transient.

In conclusion as the scientists proved, rimonabant is the future for obesity treatment and for quiting smoking. If you are looking for a helping hand in your fight with fat rimonabant is could be a solution for you. I advise you though to talk to a weight loss specialist or with your doctor before purchasing rimonabant. Best of luck!