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Acomplia – Help To Achieve your weight loss goals!

Acomplia – a breakthrough for weight loss , smoking addiction and more

Acomplia - Targeting the waistline and smoking addiction

Acomplia – Help To Achieve your weight loss goals!

Acomplia is a relatively new drug that, unusually, successfully targets both obesity and smoking addiction. Its active compound, Rimonabant, is referred to as an endocannabinoid receptor antagonist. The endocannabinoid system, located within the brain, controls energy balance, appetite, metabolic rate and body weight. For treating the conditions mentioned above, Acomplia is considered a breakthrough drug.

Acomplia prevents the normal action of endogenous cannabinoid in the brain from stimulating CB1 receptors. These receptors are responsible for our appetites and are thought to be more active in overweight people. As a result, blocking them may have a normalizing effect on appetite, reducing the urge to satisfy hunger.

Acomplia is also thought to reduce the likelihood of weight re-gain. Studies have illustrated improvements in risk factors that are associated with our metabolisms and the cardiovascular system. It is also believed to positively influence blood levels of HDL cholesterol (good fats), while reducing triglycerides (bad fats).

Human trials have demonstrated an average body weight loss of 10%, and a large proportion of this loss was from individuals’ mid-sections (abdominal cavity). The average figures from the trials were 20 lbs (9 kg) in total loss and 3 inches (8 cm) reduction from the waist, which has been maintained for a period of 2 years.

Clinical trials have also been conducted in order to assist smokers in quitting cigarettes. Early results suggest that Acomplia may in fact double an individual’s chances of stopping smoking permanently, without gaining any excess weight, (usually noted as an unwanted side effect of kicking the habit).

There are alternatives medications available to those wishing to tackle obesity and smoking addiction, however, Acomplia remains highly sought after due to its effectiveness and affordability. GI 7/2/2008

Acomplia – a breakthrough for weight loss , smoking addiction and more  

What is Acomplia?

With trials of Acomplia reporting a 10 per cent average weight loss and double the chance to quit smoking, it has been hailed as a ground breaking drug to tackle obesity and cigarettes.

Also known in the US as Zimulti, Acomplia contains a compound called Rimonabant, which targets our brain’s appetite controller – called the endocannabinoid system.

Studies have reported an average weight loss of 10 per cent of bodyweight – with weight staying off, even up to two years later. Research has also revealed that most of the pounds are shed from the difficult to shift area around the waist.

Early studies into Acomplia’s use to help quit smoking are encouraging, too. They suggest that Acomplia may double your chances of kicking the habit for good, without gaining excess weight (often a problem when people give up smoking).

Acomplia has also been shown to support cardiovascular health, improving cholesterol ratios and lowering triglyceride levels (bloodstream fats), and showing promise as an aid for diabetes and heart conditions.

How does Acomplia work?

The company behind Acomplia, French pharmaceutical business Sanofi-Aventis, used the infamous food cravings or ‘munchies’ felt by cannabis users as the unlikely inspiration for the drug.

Scientists at the company built on research showing how cannabis triggers chemicals in the brain – known as cannabinoids – which induce feelings of hunger. They form part of the endocannabinoid system in our brain, our control centre for energy, appetite and metabolic rate.

Their novel approach sought to reverse the ‘munchies’ effect by blocking the brain’s cannabinoid communication channel – so called CB1 receptors. As these receptors stimulate appetite, suppressing them acts to curb our hunger pangs.

Acomplia does just this – preventing the cannabinoid part of our brain from stimulating CB1 receptors – and thereby suppressing appetite. Through this process, Acomplia is known in medical terms as an endocannabinoid receptor antagonist.

It is thought that these same CB1 receptors may also play a role in smoking and our craving to have a cigarette. Over stimulation of CB1 is associated with nicotine dependence, in addition to over eating.

Is Acomplia beneficial for anything else?

Acomplia also supports cardiovascular health and has been shown to improve high density lipoproteins (HDLs) – which is good cholesterol – and triglyceride levels (fats carried in the bloodstream) – showing promise as an aid for diabetes and heart conditions.

In terms of diabetes, Acomplia helps reduce HbA1C (a measure of blood sugar control in the body), dyslipidemia (abnormal levels of fat in the blood) and systolic blood pressure (our peak blood pressure when the heart is pumping blood around the body) These are seen as important factors in the effective management of diabetes.

How effective is Acomplia?

Weight Loss

The findings of a two year trial of the drug, the Rimonabant in Obesity (RIO) North America program, presented at the American Heart Association Conference in 2004, revealed that 33 per cent of Accomplia users managed to lose 10 per cent of their bodyweight. Furthermore, they succeeded in keeping their weight down throughout the two year study, while a further third of the trial lost five per cent of bodyweight and also kept this weight off.

The RIO Europe study, carried out by Antwerp University Hospital and involving more than 1500 overweight or obese people from Europe and the US, found that people taking the drug for a year lost an average 18.9 pounds (8.6kg). This study also reported that over 39 per cent of the group managed to shed more than 10 per cent of their bodyweight and an average of three inches (8.5cms) from around their waists.

Another long term Acomplia study, RIO-Lipids - involved more than 1000 overweight or obese patients who also had blood lipid disorders (high cholesterol). The results from this trial, presented to the American College of Cardiology in 2005, found that after one year of treatment, patients receiving Acomplia had significant improvements in waist circumference, as well as levels of HDL (good cholesterol), triglyceride, key body inflammation indicator C-reactive protein (CRP) and insulin sensitivity.

Commenting on the study, professor of food and nutrition sciences at Lavel University in Montreal, Jean Pierre Despres said: “Those who stay on the drug for a year show remarkable weight loss: on average 17 pounds (7.7kg) – plus we saw a real reduction in waist circumference of three inches (8cm).”

Smoking

Early research has suggested that Acomplia can double the chances of kicking the smoking habit - and for good. This finding is based on the US Straus study which enrolled 787 smokers to examine the effects of Acomplia on their smoking habits. The trial found that a 20mg a day dose of Acomplia did indeed double the chances of quitting – as 36.2 per cent of Acomplia users stopped smoking compared to 20.6 per cent of the study group taking placebos.

In the period after quitting, those taking Acomplia posted an average weight loss of half a pound (0.3kg) in contrast to the placebo group who gained on average 2.5 pounds (1.1kg).

Diabetes

A one year study of more than 1,000 people with type-II diabetes across 11 countries – RIO Diabetes - found significant benefits from the use of Acomplia.

 In particular, Acomplia was seen to reduced levels of HbA1C (a measure of blood sugar control in the body), dyslipidemia (abnormal levels of fat in the blood) and systolic blood pressure (our peak blood pressure when the heart is pumping blood around the body).

The findings, which were reported at the American Diabetes Association congress in 2005, revealed that 43 per cent of patients taking 20mg a day of the drug achieved HbA1C levels below 6.5 per cent – the level recommended by the American Association of Endocrinologists. This was more than double to those in the study on a placebo.

Significant weight loss was also noted during the study – an average of 11.7 pounds (5.3kg) for Acomplia users compared to three pounds (1.4kg) for those on a placebo. Around the waist, the figures were equally impressive – a two inch (5.3cm) average waist circumference reduction for the Acomplia takers versus 0.7inches (1.9cm) for placebo users.

This led professor of medicine at leading medical practice the Mayo Clinic, Dr Michael Jensen to state: “The weight control reported for Acomplia in patients with diabetes may be an important finding. Glycaemic control with current therapies is often associated with weight gain. This weight gain can diminish the benefits of treatment and lessen the overall improvement in cardio metabolic risk.”

Cardiovascular health

Acomplia’s role in cardiovascular health was also confirmed during the Acomplia diabetes trial – RIO Diabetes.

Acomplia patients in the study increased their HDL (good cholesterol) by an average of 15.4 per cent (compared to 7.1 per cent in the placebo group, while the drug also helped to lower triglyceride levels (bloodstream fats) by an average of 9.1 per cent for the Acomplia group (against 7.3 amongst the placebo takers).

Are there any side effects?

Side effects reported during studies were mainly mild and transient, including (in order of frequency): nausea, dizziness, diarrhoea, vomiting, hypoglycaemia (low blood/sugar) and anxiety.

A recent European study, carried out by the University of Copenhagen and published in the Lancet medical journal, suggested that Acomplia may increase the likelihood of depression. The drug’s manufacturer, Sanofi Aventis, has advised that it should not be taken by people who have a history of depression.

What is the dosage?

The most beneficial doses noted in the trials have been 20mg taken daily.

Acomplia - Targeting the waistline and smoking addiction

Acomplia also known as Zimulti in the US, contains a compound called Rimonabant. It is what is known as an endocannabinoid receptor antagonist, (the endocannabinoid system within the brain controls energy, appetite and metabolic rate). It is considered a breakthrough drug in battling both obesity and smoking addiction.

When taking Acomplia, the normal action of endogenous cannabinoid in the brain is prevented from stimulating CB1 receptors, (responsible for appetite). These receptors are thought to be more active in overweight people, so blocking them may have a normalizing effect, reducing the urge to satisfy hunger.

Acomplia may also reduce the likelihood of weight re-gain, and studies have demonstrated improvements in risk factors associated with metabolism, cholesterol and the cardiovascular system.

Human trials have shown an average loss of 10% bodyweight, a large proportion of which came from the mid-section (or abdominal cavity). The average figures from the trials show fat loss of 20 lbs (9 kg) and 3 inches (8 cm) from the waist, which has been maintained for up to 2 years.

Clinical trials have also been undertaken to help smokers kick the habit. Early studies suggest that Acomplia may double a person’s chances of quitting smoking permanently, without gaining excess weight as a result of cessation.

While alternatives exist, Acomplia remains very popular for tackling these problems due to its effectiveness and affordability.

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