What is Rimonabant?
What is Rimonabant?
It’s not often that we lead off with the importance of due diligence and research, but in the case of Rimonabant, it is an absolute must. First approved in 2006 to be used for human clinically study, it was quickly banned because of the severe and intense psychiatric side effects. It’s not illegal to manufacture, sell, or use Rimonabant for research purposes only, but it is essential that the substance is used intelligently, and the thought-altering side effects need to be at the forefront of your mind when you’re doing your testing.
NOTE: The substance Rimonabant is a selective CB1 receptor blocker and was discovered and developed by pharmaceutical company, Sanofi-Aventis. It was marketed under the name Acomplia.
Undeniably Effective Obesity Treatment
Public research first began around 2005. Some of the most notable studies were being published by ’06. In August, it was found that Rimonabant was undeniably effective when administered to people who were morbidly obese. Patients were losing kilos at a time, but the research team wasn’t able to understand how or why it was working. Psyche alteration was noticed but not a big concern at the time.
Building off the completed work in 2006, a team of scientists published a study in the Neurology and Neuroscience Reports investigating the efficacy but more importantly, the safety concerns regarding the use of Rimonabant as a treatment method for obesity. Needless to say, the study wasn’t favorable when it comes to the side effects, particularly psychiatric ones.
Considered the most important Rimonabant study to date, in 2009, a team of experts determined that the substance should be used as a side supplement in healthy obese people who are capable of dieting and exercise. Individuals incapable of dieting or exercise needed to avoid use because side effects would be more severe for the unhealthy and inactive. This particular study was so important because of the long-term effects. Patients were studied for weeks and months after the trial. Psychiatric side effects took far too long to subside, likely leading to the FDA’s complete rejection of Rimonabant and Sanofi-Aventis’s halt of Acomplia production.
NOTE: The FDA had already said Acomplia “failed to demonstrate the safety of rimonabant” and voted against recommending the anti-obesity treatment for approval in 2007. The 2009 study ensured the FDA wouldn’t consider the substance again until much, much more work be done.
Few Recent Case Studies of Rimonabant
Most research laboratories have given up on Rimonabant. That doesn’t mean the substance is ineffective, because it was most definitely helpful when used to treat obesity. Since 2009, some research laboratories have tip toed around mixing Rimonabant with known psychiatric meds to try to counteract the dangerous mental side effects, but few have had any success in developing something worth mentioning, let alone manufacturing. Perhaps one day, there will be a Rimonabant-based obesity-suppression medication. Perhaps someday, Rimonabant will be the key ingredient in a weight loss supplement. That day isn’t today. Not until more research is completed and it can be safely administered to humans.
References:
1 Scheen, A J, and L F Van. “[Medication of the Month. Rimonabant (Acomplia): First CB1 Receptor Antagonist of the Endocannabinoid System].” Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2008, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18303686.
2“Rimonabant: New Drug. Obesity: Loss of a Few Kilos, Many Questions.” Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Aug. 2006, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16977739.
3 Samat, A, et al. “Rimonabant for the Treatment of Obesity.” Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Nov. 2008, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18991793.
4 Burch, J, et al. “Rimonabant for the Treatment of Overweight and Obese People.” Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2009, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19846024.