Technical Information

This section is dedicated to technical information about Acomplia. It details the class of drug that Acomplia is, and details both how and why it works.

The active ingredient in Acomplia is rimonabant, which is a CB1 endocannabinoid receptor antagonist.

(The endocannabinoid system is in the part of the brain that regulates metabolism, energy levels and appetite).

Rimonabant prevents the endogenous cannabinoid binding to CB1 receptors in nerve cells. These CB1 receptors, when activated, stimulate appetite. Hence this drug blocks the activation of these CB1 receptors and thus reduces appetite.

The CB1 endocannabinoid receptors are also involved in the mechanism of other addictions such as smoking, and it may be in time that this drug is approved as a treatment for addictions. Certainly, the effect on the endocannabinoid receptors has a benefical effect on blood glucose and lipid levels - a more beneficial effect than would be expected from weight loss alone.