NICE guidance - rimonabant for the treatment of overweight and obese adults

Summary features of guidance are (1):

• rimonabant, within its licensed indications, is recommended as an adjunct to diet and exercise for adults who are obese or overweight and who have had an inadequate response to, are intolerant of or are contraindicated to orlistat and sibutramine
• rimonabant treatment should be continued beyond 6 months only if the person has lost at least 5% of their initial body weight since starting rimonabant treatment
• rimonabant treatment should be discontinued if a person returns to their original weight while on rimonabant treatment
• rimonabant treatment should not be continued for longer than 2 years without a formal clinical assessment and discussion of the individual risks and benefits with the person receiving treatment

For full details then consult the full guidance (1).

• on October 23rd 2008 the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) recommended the suspension of the marketing authorisation for rimonabant (Acomplia). The EMEA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has concluded that the benefits of rimonabant no longer outweigh its risks and the marketing authorisation should be suspended across the EU

Reference:

• (1) NICE (June 2008). Rimonabant for the treatment of overweight and obese adults.