Study: Rimonabant May Be Effective for Drug AddictionNovember 15, 2004
Research Summary
Scientists report that rimonabant, or Acomplia, a pill used to help people lose weight or quit smoking, also appears to be effective in addressing drug misuse, the Associated Press reported Nov. 14."I think it's going to have a big impact on the treatment of addiction," said Dr. Charles O'Brien, an addiction expert at the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Animal studies have shown that rimonabant is able to block the effects of marijuana and prevent relapses in individuals addicted to alcohol and cocaine.
O'Brien said that once the drug is approved for treating smoking or obesity, he plans to research its effectiveness in treating addiction.
Dr. George Kunos of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism also plans to research if rimonabant can help treat heavy drinkers.
A 2001 study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that rimonabant works on the brain's reward system. According to Dr. Robert Anthenelli of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, it is suspected that rimonabant blocks the effects of the body's natural endocannabinoids by preventing them from attaching to the brain cells they normally stimulate.
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