New medicines
Acomplia
Composition: Rimonabant.
Presentation: Film-coated tablet 20mg.
Action: Selective cannabinoid-1 receptor (CB1) antagonist.
Indications: As an adjunct to diet and exercise for the treatment of
obese patients (BMI >=30kg/m2), or overweight patients (BMI >=27kg/m2)
with associated risk factors, such as type 2 diabetes or dyslipidaemia.
Dosage: The recommended dosage is one 20mg tablet daily, to be taken
in the morning before breakfast. Acomplia should be introduced with a
mildly reduced calorie diet.
Precautions: Caution is advised for patients with moderate hepatic impairment
and use in severe hepatic impairment is not recommended. Acomplia should
not be used in patients with severe renal impairment. Acomplia should
be used with caution in patients over 75 years of age and is not recommended
for use in patients below 18 years of age. Caution is advised when using
Acomplia in combination with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors (eg. ketoconazole,
itraconazole, ritonavir, telithromycin, clarithromycin, nefazodone).
Acomplia should not be initiated in patients with uncontrolled serious
psychiatric illness such as major depression. Use of Acomplia in patients
taking antidepressant medication is not recommended. It should be used
with caution in patients being treated for epilepsy.
Side effects: Very common (>=10 per cent) upper respiratory tract
infection, nausea. Common (>=1 per cent, <10 per cent) gastroenteritis,
depressive disorders, mood alterations with depressive symptoms, anxiety,
irritability, nervousness, sleep disorders, insomnia, parasomnias, memory
loss, dizziness, hypoaesthesia, sciatica, hot flush, diarrhoea, vomiting,
pruritus, hyperhidrosis, tendonitis, muscle cramp, muscle spasms, fatigue.
Legal category: POM.
Net price: 28 tablets, £55.20.
Contact details: sanofi-aventis, 1 Onslow St, Guildford, Surrey, GU1
4YS. Telephone 01483 505515.
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