What are the common side effects?

As with all prescription medication there is always the possibility of side effects. Some of the more common side effects of this treatment include nausea, hot flushing, restlessness, agitation or a general feeling of being unwell. These side effect, often mild in severity, should pass in the majority of patients within the first week or so of treatment.

Who should not take Acomplia?

Acomplia should not be used in patients with the following conditions:

• Severe renal impairment
• In patients with uncontrolled serious psychiatric illness such as a major depression.
• Patients who had a cardiovascular event (myocardial infarction, stroke, etc.) less than 6 months ago
• Patients who are breastfeeding
• Patients who are pregnant

Acomplia should be used with caution in patients with the following conditions:

• Moderate renal impairment
• Aged over 75 years
• Patients with epilepsy
• Patients using potent CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, telithromycin, clarithromycin, nefazodone)
• Rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance

In clinical trials certain depressive disorders or mood changes were also reported. Depressive disorders were found in up to 10% patients taking Acomplia whereas suicidal thoughts were reported in 1% of patients. Acomplia is not recommended with the following conditions:

• Patients undergoing treatment for major depressive illness and taking anti-depression medications for it.
• Patients currently having or who previously had suicidal thoughts and depressive disorders. If the benefits of Acomplia are found to be greater than risks, you can take Acomplia after consulting with the doctor.
• Patients with uncontrolled psychiatric illness excluding depression

Before you begin your Acomplia treatment always inform your guardians or relatives about the possible risks of taking Acomplia. Immediately stop taking Acomplia if you experience any signs of depression disorder.

How long do I take Acomplia?

Acomplia can be taken until a patient reaches a BMI of 25 or has been using this treatment for 2 years, which ever comes first. As the safety and effectiveness of Acomplia has yet to be assessed beyond 2 years you will not be able to use this for any longer time period.

How much weight can be lost on Acomplia?

This treatment has gone through various clinical trials and studies which have found that it can reduce a patients total weight by approximately 10% within their first year of using this treatment. Many of the trials which Acomplia has undergone were placebo-controlled, involving a total of more then 6800 patients and the results were significant. The patients in phase 3 trials followed a diet prescribed by a dietician and they were advised to increase physical activity.

After one year of taking Acomplia 20mg once daily a mean weight loss of 6.5kg were found compared to 1.6kg for placebo. Most of the weight loss achieved with Acomplia was obtained in the first 9 months of treatment.

Acomplia also reduced the risk of weight regain. A group of patients on Acomplia 20mg were re-randomized to Acomplia 20mg or Placebo after one year. The patients who continued on Acomplia 20mg achieved a total weight loss of 7.5kg over two years. The Patients who were transferred to placebo had a total weight loss of 3.1kg over the two years.

Patients treated with Acomplia also showed a significant reduction in waist circumference which is known to be an indication of intra-abdominal fat. The waist circumference, seen by experts as a more important measurement than the BMI, was reduced by 6-7cm.

How does Acomplia work?

Acomplia works on the endocannabinoid system, which is the used system to govern energy balance, glucose and lipid metabolism as well as body weight. Rimonabant, the active ingredient of Acomplia, works to block receptors called cannabinoid-1 receptors (CB1) which are found within this system in the brain, digestive system, liver, muscles and fat tissue. Within the brain these CB1 receptors are make up part of a system know as the mesolimbic system which regulates our intake of highly palatable, fatty or sweet foods. With these receptors blocked and further over action prevented not only do patients experience the benefits of appetite suppression but also an increase in metabolism and energy which would usually be reduced when using a weight loss programme alone. Acomplia has also been proven to be beneficial amongst patients with other high risk factors such as high cholesterol and diabetes by increasing the levels of HDL-cholesterol, commonly known as 'good fats' whilst reducing blood levels of bad fats as well as sugar levels. Does it stop me smoking? Acomplia has gone through clinical trials and during these trials; there is evidence to suggest that it helps with stopping your craving for nicotine as well as other possible addictions. However, in the UK, it has only been approved / licensed as an anti obesity drug and not for its smoking benefits. How does it differ from the others? Acomplia differs from the other two obesity treatments currently available in the UK, Xenical and Reductil, as it is the only one of these treatments to directly target the encannbinoid system. This means that not does Acomplia work well at suppressing appetite but it is also efficient at maintaining a patients metabolic rate which would usually fall as a result of dieting which is unlike any other treatment currently available. For more information on the differences between the treatments available you can find out treatment comparison table by clicking here. What is the cost of a course of Acomplia? You will find that the price of Acomplia over the internet via online clinics such as HealthExpress will be about £160 for a months' supply of the course. It is not yet available over the NHS as the cost of it is very high. With HealthExpress the price includes the medication, a private medical consultation with a GMC doctor online, a private prescription and next day delivery via Royal Mail special delivery. There are no other costs for credit card processing or anything else. .

Acomplia

Acomplia (Rimonabant), also known to some as Zimulti, is the latest of three prescription slimming pills available for the treatment of obesity throughout the UK. It is a new class of medication which works on both the central nervous system and encannbinoid system, which regulates body weight and metabolism allowing patients to both loose weight whilst maintaining a high metabolic rate. Manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis, this one a day solution to a modern day problem has taken the world by storm with it fast becoming the medication of choice for those who suffer from obesity as well as attributing risk factors such as diabetes and high cholesterol.