Drug Name
Rimonabant

Drug Uses
Rimonabant is used complementary to diet and exercise to treat obese or overweight patients who suffer from Type 2 diabetes and abnormal levels of fat in the blood. It can also prevent the risk of cardiovascular disease.

How to use
Rimonabant should be taken once a day, before breakfast. The normally recommended Rimonabant dosage is 20mg which should be swallowed with a full glass of water.

Drug Class and Mechanism
Rimonabant works by blocking the CB1 receptor, one of two receptors found in our body's physiological system called the Endocannabinoid System (EC System). Thus, helping stabilize the over-activation of the EC system and managing hunger cravings in a better way.

Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine and you are using it regularly, take it as soon as possible. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Storage
Store at the room temperature away from moisture and sunlight. Keep out of the reach of children.

Warnings/Precautions
It is advisable to consult a doctor before taking Rimonabant and adhere to the prescribed dosage to attain the expected results. Rimonabant should not be taken by pregnant woman since it may cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Rimonabant should not also be used by lactating mothers. Though not clinically proved, there is possibility that this diet pill may be passed into breast milk. Rimonabant is metabolized by the liver, so it is recommended that patients with moderate hepatic impairment should consult their healthcare provider before using the drug.

Possible Side Effects
As your body adjusts to Rimonabant, you may experience some of the reported side effects like anxiety, disorientation, insomnia, nausea, headache, hallucinations, hypertension, heart and kidney damage, palpitations, heart attack, strokes, psychosis, fatigue and hyperphagia (excessive eating beyond normal feeling of hunger), gastrointestinal discomfort and dizziness.

More Information
Rimonabant may also be found to be effective in assisting some smokers to quit smoking. Sanofi-Aventis is currently conducting studies to determine the possible value of Rimonabant in smoking-cessation therapy. The Studies with Rimonabant and Tobacco Use (STRATUS) Program involves more than 6,000 subjects. STRATUS is designed to explore two smoking-related therapies. First, to use Rimonabant directly to aid in smoking cessation. Second, to help prevent weight gain in former smokers. Initial results apparently suggest that Rimonabant is effective for both uses.