Acomplia for Weight Loss
The battle of the bulge is a growing pandemic across the world. Millions of obese people, and others simply looking to lose a few pounds, are in search of anything and everything that can help them in their attempt to lose weight. People sometimes turn to other remedies when regular diet and exercise regimens are not yielding the results they want. One such remedy is the diet drug Acomplia (rimonabant). While tests have shown that this diet pill may aid some in initially losing weight, potential side effects have caused this drug to be taken off the market.
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Function
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According to Acomplia's manufacturer, Sanofi-Aventis, the diet drug is considered a fat-binding pill. Fatty foods are eaten and stored in the stomach. Before they move into the digestive tract, chemicals in Acomplia bind to the fats, subsequently stopping them from being absorbed by the body. Acomplia also works as an appetite suppressant by inhibiting cannabinoid receptors in the brain. These receptors receive signals that encourage your appetite.
History
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Acomplia was first placed on the market in the United Kingdom and Germany, before becoming available to a select 40 countries in 2006. As reported by the Zimulti Acomplia Report, Acomplia was actually recommended to be taken out of circulation in 2008 by the European Medicines Agency due to the risk it poses of mental illnesses. One month after this issued warning, Acomplia's manufacturers pulled the drug off the market.
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Study
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In a clinical test at Columbia University involving both overweight and obese individuals, over the span of one year, the patients taking Acomplia lost 10.5 more lbs. than those who did not. Both groups were instructed to adhere to a healthier diet. People who followed these guidelines lost more weight and reduced the amount of fat stored around their waists, lowered the levels of unhealthy fat in their blood and boosted their good cholesterol levels.
Theories/Speculation
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However, further results in this study showed that when patients stopped taking Acomplia they subsequently gained all of the weight back. The effects of Acomplia seemed to end the moment the pill stopped being administered. Furthermore, there are risks of psychiatric disorders associated with the pills.
Warning
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The FDA has not approved Acomplia, nor is it available to people living in the United States. Generally, to be deemed safe for long-term usage, a drug needs to have follow-up testing that spans two years; yet that was not achieved by Acomplia's manufacturers. Furthermore, in addition to varying psychological effects, neurological effects such as seizures were seen in patients taking Acomplia.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Megan VerHoef
