Acomplia (generic name: Rimonabant; brand names: Bethin / Monaslim / Remonabent / Riobant / Slimona / Rimoslim / Zimulti) is an anti-obesity drug.

Acomplia is the first in a new class of therapeutic agents called cannabinoid-1 receptor blockers (CB1) destined to treat obesity and related conditions. It is also effective in smoking cessation therapy.

Acomplia reduces your appetite so you eat less. It acts directly on fat cells to prevent some weight gain. It may also reduce fear and anxiety by reducing the injection of adrenaline into your brain.

Because Acomplia acts on the lipid system to reduce the levels of cholesterol in your blood stream, it indirectly helps to prevent the onset, or progression, of arteriosclerosis (a general hardening of the arteries). It also helps to reduce some of the cardiovascular problems connected with the build-up of fatty deposits in and around the heart. This effect works in combination with your efforts to improve your levels of physical fitness and should reduce the need to have surgery for the insertion of a stent or other interventions to assist your heart function. Finally, there is evidence that it may help to control Type 2 Diabetes.

Acomplia works to block some of the chemistry forming the pleasure centres of the brain. The most obvious example of the benefits that can flow from this is the improved ability to stop smoking. Acomplia seems to break the associational link between a recreational drug and the expected pleasurable effect. This makes it easier to break patterns of addiction and dependence. Clinical trials have found that Acomplia is effective in supporting people who want to quit taking both hard drugs like cocaine and soft drugs like cannabis. The drug works by reducing the general desire for that kind of pleasure and fewer people who take Acomplia relapse into drug abuse.

Some researchers also suggest the possibility that Acomplia may help to improve your short-term memory.

Recommendations

Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. Take Acomplia exactly as directed.

The standard dosage is one 20mg tablet taken once daily in the morning before you eat breakfast. You should not crush or break the tablet, but swallow it whole.

To get the best results, you must also begin to eat a better diet and follow a program of physical exercise. This means that you must start monitoring your calorie intake. Your doctor will be able to advise you on what your daily calorie intake should be and how to calculate it. Similarly, your doctor will have gauged your level of fitness and will be able to set out a program of exercise which gradually increases.

Although Acomplia will help you control fat in your body, it works best when you burn some of the calories through exercise. It will also help you to improve your breathing and build up stamina.

If you forget to take Acomplia, do not try to 'catch up' by taking a double dose. Just take the next dose as you would normally.

Precautions

Before taking Acomplia, tell your doctor if:

you are allergic to any medicines;
you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Ingredients

Active ingredient: rimonabant.