Rimonabant
Why rimonabant is prescribed
Rimonabant is a powerful anti-obesity agent that is supposed to be taken for a long time and is efficient for the treatment of obesity in people of any age and those with a number of chronic conditions. If compared to other medications of the kind, rimonabant allows achieving best results, with most patients getting at least 10% of weight loss within the first year of the treatment. However, many people are likely to lose more – up to 20 pounds a year, and most importantly are able to maintain that weight for a long time. Rimonabant is intended for long-term treatment – you may be taking it for several months. It has also even reported to reduce nicotine cravings and improve some cardio-metabolic factors – something other medications of this kind are unable to provide.
How rimonabant works
The effects of rimonabant are based on blocking specific receptors in your brain that control appetite and nicotine cravings. This medicine reduces your appetite – it does not burn your fat. When you don’t feel hungry and exercise regularly, consuming less food than normal, it’s easier for you body to get rid of excessive fat. These changes do not happen overnight, and you still need to apply a lot of effort, but the results of rimonabant treatment are worth it. If you think this medicine is not working properly for you, and you still feel extreme hunger, talk to your health care provider about a possibility of having your dose adjusted. That way you will be able to benefit from the treatment as much as possible without getting any harmful effects of rimonabant.
Are side effects possible?
When taking rimonabant you need to be aware of the possibility of side effects. In most cases those are mild side effects, such as vomiting, depressions, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, and sleep problems, and they go away on their own very soon. However, in some cases these side effects can change in intensity, become bothersome and start to interfere with your everyday life. In that case you will need to tell your health care provider about the situation you have and make sure some measures are taken to deal with your reaction.
Things to discuss with your doctor
Your doctor needs to know your full medical history before prescribing rimonabant, as this may be important in deciding whether you really nee to be taking this drug and whether you will benefit for the treatment. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any liver problems, impaired kidney function and a history of epilepsy, as additional tests may be required or you will be placed under close observation of your doctor, especially at the beginning of your treatment. Taking other drugs along with rimonabant is not recommended, as this can affect the success of your treatment. Make sure you tell your doctor if you are using or are going to use such medicines as antidepressants, drugs for normal blood lipid levels, depression medications, antidiabetes medications, St. John’s wort, medicines for weight loss, HIV medications, epilepsy drugs, antibiotics, rifampicin, or antifungals before getting a prescription.
Dosage and possible allergic reactions
Your dosage of rimonabant depends on a number of factors and can be lowered if you have certain health conditions. However, if you have a history of an allergic reaction to rimonabant or any other ingredients the tablet may contain (croscarmellose sodium, sodium laurilsulfate, maize starch, lactose monohydrate, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, and titanium dioxide), you are not supposed to take this drug at all. Taking more of rimonabant is unlikely to make your treatment more efficient and can lead to an overdose. If you have used too much of rimonabant and experience headache, insomnia, fatigue, euphoria, and any other symptoms you didn’t have before – contact your doctor right away.