We all know pill popping isn’t the answer when it comes to losing weight and keeping if off. But clinical trials with a new anti-obesity drug look promising. The drug, called rimonabant, was developed after scientists noticed that cannabis smokers often had increased appetites and frequently experienced the ‘munchies’.

They worked on the idea that if substances from cannabis called cannabinoids stimulated appetite, blocking the cannabinoid receptors in the brain might reduce appetite.

Furthermore, blocking these receptors might also help people to give up smoking as these receptors not only appear to be involved in controlling food intake, but also have a role to play in tobacco dependence.

Earlier trials with the drug, which works by blocking cannabinoid receptors in the brain, have already shown promising results. But now a new study published in medical journal The Lancet, confirms the drug can help with weight loss and reduce the risk factors associated with heart disease.

In the study, more than 1,500 obese people were given a calorie-controlled diet, together with either 5mg or 20mg of rimonabant each day or a dummy drug. After one year, two thirds of the participants taking the largest dose had lost at least 5 percent of their weight. Better still, of these, 39 percent lost more than 10 percent. Meanwhile, patients on the 20mg dose lost on average, 4cm from their waist and risk factors for heart disease including raised cholesterol, insulin resistance and the presence of metabolic syndrome improved.

New Diet Pill - Acomplia / Rimonabant

There has been talk for some time about a new experimental weight loss drug called Acomplia or Rimonabant. It is now being said that Acomplia or Rimonabant is getting closer to approval by the FDA.

The new drug has been undergoing testing and trials over the last few years. The tests with Acomplia against a placebo has shown that it is effective and does show sustained weight loss after two years of taking the drug. The overweight adults who took Acomplia had lost significantly more weight than those not taking Acomplia. The test also showed that it had increased the levels of HDL cholesterol which is good for you.

Acomplia or Rimonabant works by reducing the appetite, blocking certain receptors in the brain. Those that take Acomplia can expect to lose 10% of their body weight in a year. All sounds good to me. I know that dieting isn’t the way to go, and Paul McKenna is right in what he says about changing the way we look at food, but to me if I wasn’t hungry then I wouldn’t eat, or if my appetite was surpressed I may eat less. Plus if all I have to do is remember to take a tablet everyday, and I already have to to balance my thyroid level, then am I onto a winner?

Other Notes
Acomplia (Rimonabant) has not been licensed in the UK for smoking cessation. Whilst during clinical studies the drug clearly demonstrated a reduced craving for nicotine in patients, the drug has only at the moment been approved as an obesity treatment. As this is a prescription medication we strongly advise that you seek to have a face to face consultation with your doctor in the first instance. Our service should not be interpreted as being a replacement to the treatment advice your doctor can provide.