Rimonabant Perspective

The two year results JAMA 2006 2;295(7):761-75 of treatment with 20 mg/d of rimonabant plus diet promoted modest but sustained weight loss as well as favorable changes in cardiometabolic risk factors. At year 1, compared with the placebo group, the rimonabant 20 mg group produced greater mean reductions in weight (–6.3 kg; P<.001) and waist circumference (–6.1 cm; P<.001).

The rimonabant 20 mg group also produced greater changes in levels of triglycerides (% change, –5.3; P<.001) and increases in HDL cholesterol (% change, 12.6; P<.001), as compared with placebo. Subsequently, the weight loss achieved during year 1 was maintained during year 2 in the patients continuing to receive rimonabant 20 mg.

A limitation of the study, pointed out by the authors was the limited data in minority groups, with the population predominantly white female.