Acomplia FAQ

What is Acomplia?

Acomplia is the brand name of a new prescription weight loss drug for dieters, Rimonabant, that has recently (June 28th, 2006) been approved for use by patients in the UK.

Who is Acomplia suitable for?

It is designed as a slimming aid for obese patients or overweight patients with other risk factors such as type 2 diabetes or dyslipidaemia - see BMI for the definitions of what constitutes overweight or obese. In particular, the drug reduces the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It may also help people to stop smoking, although it has not yet been licensed for this purpose.

What results can I expect?

In clinical trials, over one year 33% of patients lost more than 10% of their initial bodyweight, with nearly two thirds of patients losing over 5%. Patients were placed on a calorie controlled diet whilst on the trial, but still lost statistically significantly more weight than the control group who were only given a calorie controlled diet to follow and a placebo.

Will I regain the weight lost?

Patients who took the drug for a further year did not regain the weight lost. However, it is reasonable to assume, in the absense of any data to the contrary, that once patients stop taking the drug completely, the weight will be regained.

Are there any other benefits to taking Acomplia?

It has been shown to have a beneficial effect on blood glucose and fat levels. Specifically it raises HDL cholesterol levels (the good cholesterol).

Can I get it on the NHS?

No, not yet. It has not yet been approved by NICE, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. There is concern that widespread use of this drug on the NHS will cost more money than the NHS can reasonably be expected to fund.

Is it available on private prescription?

Yes.