Replacing 3% of calories from red meat with plant protein was associated with a 12% lower risk of death over 26-32 years according to a recent analysis from researchers from Harvard University.

This is the equivalent of replacing roughly 15-20 grams of protein from red meat with plant protein for people eating a diet containing 1800-2500 calories per day.

A McDonald’s hamburger contains 12 grams of protein.

A quarter-pound hamburger contains 24 grams of protein.

A 9-ounce steak contains 70 grams of protein.

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Replacing 3% of calories from processed red meat like sausage, bacon, ham, corn beef, cold cuts, smoked meats, dried meat, beef jerky, canned meat and hot dogs with plant protein was associated with a 18% lower risk of death over 26-32 years according to a recent analysis from researchers from Harvard University.

This is the equivalent of replacing roughly 15-20 grams of protein from processed red meat with plant protein for people eating a diet containing 1800-2500 calories per day.

A hot dog contains 5 grams of protein.

Three slices of bacon contains 9 grams of protein.

Three ounces of sausage contains 10 grams of protein.

Three ounces of corned beef contains 15 grams of protein.

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Replacing 3% of calories from eggs with plant protein was associated with a 19% lower risk of death over 26-32 years according to a recent analysis from researchers from Harvard University.

This is the equivalent of replacing roughly 15-20 grams of protein from red meat with plant protein for people eating a diet containing 1800-2500 calories per day.

Two (2) eggs contain 12 grams of protein.

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Here is an interesting post from "JohnTall". I am posting it here so that more people will see it.

"Nearly two years ago I posted a note detailing my experience with Taranabant. In that post I fudged my actual weights for concern that Merck might be able to identify me and end my participation in the trial. Since then Merck has pulled the plug on Taranabant and I am no longer concerned about them knowing that I am posting.

My actual experience was that I started at 244 pounds and I lost to 183 in 101/2 months (61 pounds lost). I then slowly regained 9 pounds to 192 and that was my weight when I left the study in December of 2007. I was in the study for 27 months." Read the entire article | Email this article

The “benefits of Acomplia no longer outweigh its risks and the marketing authorisation should be suspended across the European Union" according to a recommendation by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) to French drugmaker Sanofi Aventis on October 23rd, 2008.

The European Medicines Agency is based in London and regulates treatments in the 27 nations of the European Union.

The EMEA has determined that Acomplia doubles the risk of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks and "suicidal ideation".

The drug has been taken by more than 700,000 people worldwide.

Acomplia was linked to 5 deaths and 720 adverse drug reactions in Britain in the past two years according to a report in June 2008.

The drug has never been approved for sale in the U.S., but has been available in the EU since June 2006.

Because of this, it is likely that it will never be approved for sale in the U.S. Read the entire article | Email this article

"Sanofi-Aventis [the drug company that makes Acomplia] had long rejected concerns over [Acomplia's] psychiatric side- effects, but failed to win approval for it from the US Food & Drug Administration," according to the Financial Times.

"Warnings to patients on the drug's use have been strengthened several times since its launch in Europe in 2006."

"The company said it 'believes that Acomplia will remain an important therapeutic answer to a highly prevalent and increasing unmet medical need', and pledged to continue studies on its use for patients with diabetes and at risk of cardiovascular disease." Read the entire article | Email this article

[The European Medicines Agency's (EMEA's) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP)] noted, that the effectiveness of Acomplia in clinical practice is more limited than was expected on the basis of the clinical trials, because available data indicate that patients generally take Acomplia only for a short period," according to a press release from the European Medicines Agency which recommended sales of Acomplia be suspended in Europe.

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"Acomplia has been authorised in the European Union since June 2006 and is marketed in 18 EU Member States" which include "Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom" according to a Question and Answer document from the European Medicines Agency. Read the entire article | Email this article

Acomplia (rimonobant) has been cited in 5 deaths and 720 adverse drug reactions in the UK according to figures published on June 3rd, 2008 by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

One person on the drug committed suicide. Another person died from an infection, while three others died from heart attacks.

The European Union approved Acomplia in 2006. Read the entire article | Email this article

"Depressive reactions may occur in up to 10% of patients treated with [Acomplia] rimonabant," notes a report from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

"Rimonabant is [ should not be used by ] patients with ongoing major depression or those taking antidepressants."

"mportant risks that were identified during clinical development were depressive disorders, anxiety, sleep disorders, and sensory neurological disturbances." Read the entire article | Email this article

Acomplia (rimonabant) can cause depression in 10 percent of patients who take it. One-third of these cases occur within the first week, and nearly one-half within the first two weeks notes a report from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Read the entire article | Email this article

As of January 2008 there had been 15 reports of paranoia caused by Acomplia (rimonabant) according to a report from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Some, but not all, cases were in association with depression. Read the entire article | Email this article

The most common adverse reactions associated with Acomplia (rimonabant), notes a report from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, include:

• Psychiatric disorders (depression, anxiety, nervousness, irritability, sleep disorders, parasomnias where a patient is aroused during sleep and caught between being awake and a sleep)


• Nervous-system disorders (memory loss, dizziness, hypoesthesia (reduced sense of touch or sensation), paraesthesia (tingling, pricking, or numbness of a person's skin))


• Gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting)


• General disorders (fatigue, asthenia (a feeling of weakness))


• Skin and subcutaneous disorders (itching, sweating)

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Sales for Acomplia (rimonabant) in 2007 totaled 79 million euros which is approximately $122 million. Read the entire article | Email this article

People given 20 mg of Acomplia per day along with dietary counseling lost an average of 9.5 pounds after 1.5 years compared to a weight loss of 1.1 pounds for those given a placebo according to a new study called the STRADIVARIUS study. The study involved 839 patients at 112 centers in North America, Europe, and Australia. Read the entire article | Email this article

"Significant psychiatric and gastrointestinal tract adverse effects were observed [ in people given 20 mg of Acomplia ( rimonabant ) ] but were usually mild or moderate in severity," noted the authors of the STRADIVARIUS study that involved 839 patients at 112 centers in North America, Europe, and Australia.

A total of 43.4 percent of those given Acomplia ( rimonabant ) reported psychiatric side effects versus 28.4 percent of those given a placebo.

"These adverse events consisted primarily of an increase in anxiety and depression," the authors noted. Read the entire article | Email this article

Severe psychiatric adverse effects, defined as major depression, thoughts of suicide, or attempted or successful suicide occurred with 4.7 percent of patients given 20 mg of Acomplia ( rimonabant ) per day versus 3.8 percent of those given a placebo according to the STRADIVARIUS study that involved 839 patients at 112 centers in North America, Europe, and Australia.

"A single patient in the placebo group attempted suicide, and a single patient in the rimonabant [ Acomplia ] group successfully completed suicide," the paper noted. Read the entire article | Email this article

Gastrointestinal side effects were reported by 33.6 percent of patients given 20 mg of Acomplia ( rimnoabant ) per day versus 17.8 percent of those given a placebo according to the STRADIVARIUS study that involved 839 patients at 112 centers in North America, Europe, and Australia. Read the entire article | Email this article

A total of 17.5 percent of patients given 20 mg of Acomplia ( rimnoabant ) per day dropped out of the study due to side effects versus 7.5 percent of those given a placebo according to the STRADIVARIUS study that involved 839 patients at 112 centers in North America, Europe, and Australia. Read the entire article | Email this article

Acomplia (rimonabant) causes an average weight loss of 10.3 pounds more than placebo according to an analysis by researchers from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Read the entire article | Email this article

Side effects that have been reported with Acomplia (rimonabant) according to an analysis by Arnie Astrup and others from the University of Copenhagen in Frederiksberg, Denmark include:

• irritability


• insomnia


• stress


• nervousness


• panic attacks


• agitation


• nightmare


• abnormal dreams

"Although the number of patients discontinuing therapy because of adverse events seemed to be small, high study attrition rates raise the possibility that some events were not documented," Astrup noted. Read the entire article | Email this article

Psychiatric side effects such as depression and anxiety have been reported with 26 percent of patients given Acomplia (rimonabant) compared to 14 percent of those given a placebo according to an analysis by Arnie Astrup and others from the University of Copenhagen in Frederiksberg, Denmark.

This is despite the fact that "[all of] the included trials excluded patients with existing depression, or those with a history [of depression]," as Astrup noted.
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Nine percent of patients given 20 mg of Acomplia (rimonabant) required anti-anxiety medication or sleep medication compared to 4 percent of those given a placebo according to an analysis by Arnie Astrup and others from the University of Copenhagen in Frederiksberg, Denmark. Read the entire article | Email this article

Five percent of patients given 20 mg of Acomplia (rimonabant) required anti-depressant medication compared to 3 percent of those given a placebo according to an analysis by Arnie Astrup and others from the University of Copenhagen in Frederiksberg, Denmark.

This is despite the fact that "[all of] the included trials excluded patients with existing depression, or those with a history [of depression]," Astrup noted. Read the entire article | Email this article

Three percent of patients given Acomplia (rimonabant) dropped out of studies due to depression compared to 1.4 percent given a placebo according to an analysis by Arnie Astrup and others from the University of Copenhagen in Frederiksberg, Denmark. This means that dropouts due to depression are 2.5 times as likely with Acomplia (rimonabant) than with placebo.

This is despite the fact that "[all of] the included trials excluded patients with existing depression, or those with a history [of depression]," Astrup noted. Read the entire article | Email this article

One percent of patients given Acomplia (rimonabant) dropped out of studies due to anxiety compared to 0.3 percent given a placebo according to an analysis by Arnie Astrup and others from the University of Copenhagen in Frederiksberg, Denmark. This means that dropouts due to depression are 3 times as likely with Acomplia (rimonabant) than with placebo. Read the entire article | Email this article

There have been two suicides in patients given Acomplia (rimonabant) in obesity studies so far according to an analysis by Arnie Astrup and others from the University of Copenhagen in Frederiksberg, Denmark. One patient was taking 20 mg, while the other patient was taking 5 mg.

This is despite the fact that "[all of] the included trials excluded patients with existing depression, or those with a history [of depression]," Astrup noted. Read the entire article | Email this article

Here is a story posted in one of the Discussion Forums about weight loss with Acomplia. Read the entire article | Email this article

Evidence from the United Kingdom suggests that Acomplia (rimonobant), also known as Zimulti, causes psychiatic side effects in roughly one of 10 people who take it and suicidal thoughts in approximately one out of 100. Read the entire article | Email this article

Yesterday, an FDA advisory committee recommended that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) not approve Acomplia (rimonabant) because of concerns about an increased risk of suicide and psychiatric problems associated with the drug. The FDA will makes its final decision on July 26th, 2007. Read the entire article | Email this article

Acomplia (rimonabant) reduces appetite by blocking a receptor called the cannabinoid-1 receptor. Stimulation of these and other receptors help to protect against anxiety, phobias, depression and posttraumatic stress disorders. Stimulation of these receptors may also protect against neurotoxicity and some forms of epilepsy. Therefore, drugs that block this receptor, such as Acomplia (rimonabant), should not be used carefully and monitored closely in patients with anxiety, depression, epilepsy and neurodegenerative disorders according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) briefing document about the drug. Read the entire article | Email this article

Acomplia (rimonabant) increased the need for antidepressant drugs according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) briefing document about the drug. Antidepressant were prescribed for 4.8 percent of patients on 20 mg of Acomplia versus 2.9 percent of patients on placebo. Read the entire article | Email this article

Acomplia (rimonabant) increased the need for anti-anxiety drugs and sleeping pills according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) briefing document about the drug. These drugs were prescribed for 8.5 percent of patients taking 20 mg of Acomplia versus 4.1 percent of patients on placebo. Read the entire article | Email this article

Acomplia (rimonabant) increases the risk of insomnia according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) briefing document about the drug. Insomnia occurred in 5.4 percent of people given 20 mg per day compared to only 3.3 percent of people given a placebo. Read the entire article | Email this article

Acomplia (rimonabant) doubles the risk of anxiety according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) briefing document about the drug. Six (6) percent of those given 20 mg per day reported anxiety compared to only 2.5 percent of people given a placebo. Read the entire article | Email this article

Acomplia (rimonabant) increases the risk of irritability which occurred in 1.9 percent of people given 20 mg per day versus 0.6 percent of people given a placebo according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) briefing document about the drug. Read the entire article | Email this article

Acomplia (rimonabant) increases the risk of psychiatric symptoms according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) briefing document about the drug. Twenty-six (26) percent of those given 20 mg per day had psychiatric symptoms compared to 14 percent of people given a placebo. Psychiatric symptoms include things like depression, anxiety, insomnia, nervousness, panic attacks, etc. Read the entire article | Email this article

Acomplia (rimonabant) increases the risk of depression according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) briefing document about the drug. Nine (9) percent of those given 20 mg per day reported depression compared to 5 percent of people given a placebo. Read the entire article | Email this article

The most frequently reported side effects reported from patients taking Acomplia (rimonabant) in the 30 countries where the drug is already approved and being sold include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, anxiety, depression, insomnia, dizziness, headache, unusual skin sensations, tremor, sleepiness, amnesia and difficulty with attention according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) briefing document about the drug. Read the entire article | Email this article

Acomplia (rimonabant), at a dose of 20 mg once-per-day, has been approved in 30 countries in Europe, South America and Asia according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) briefing document about the drug. Read the entire article | Email this article