National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
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NICE issues guidance on rimonabant for the treatment of overweight and obese patients

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) yesterday (25 June) published final guidance on the use of rimonabant for the treatment of overweight and obese patients.

The guidance recommends:

• rimonabant as an addition to diet and exercise for adults who are obese or overweight and who have had an inadequate response to, are intolerant of or are contraindicated to orlistat and sibutramine.
• rimonabant treatment should be continued beyond 6 months only if the person has lost at least 5% of their initial body weight since starting rimonabant treatment.

• rimonabant treatment should be discontinued if a person returns to their pre-treatment weight.

• rimonabant treatment should not be continued for longer than 2 years without a formal clinical assessment and discussion of the individual risks and benefits with the person receiving treatment.

Andrew Dillon, NICE Chief Executive and Executive Lead for the guideline said: “The independent advisory committee recommended rimonabant, along with diet and exercise, as a treatment option for adults who are obese or overweight. This is good news for patients for whom orlistat and sibutramine are not effective.

“Being overweight or obese can lead to a range of serious health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and some cancers. These recommendations should be used in conjunction with the NICE guideline ‘Obesity: the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children' published in December 2006”


Notes to Editors

About the guidance


1. The guidance on the use of rimonabant for the treatment of overweight and obese patients can be found at http://www.nice.org.uk/TA144


2. The committee also recommend when considering the presence of current or previous depressive disorders/mood alterations, and during regular monitoring for the emergence of such symptoms, clinicians should consult the NICE clinical guidelines on the management of anxiety and depression, noting the need for careful and comprehensive assessment.

3. Related guidance includes:

• Obesity: guidance on the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children - www.nice.org.uk/CG043

• Anxiety (amended): management of anxiety in adults in primary, secondary and community care - www.nice.org.uk/CG022

• Depression (amended): management of depression in primary and secondary care - www.nice.org.uk/CG023


About NICE


4. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is the independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention and treatment of ill health.

5. NICE produces guidance in three areas of health:

public health – guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention of ill health for those working in the NHS, local authorities and the wider public and voluntary sector
health technologies – guidance on the use of new and existing medicines, treatments and procedures within the NHS
clinical practice – guidance on the appropriate treatment and care of people with specific diseases and conditions within the NHS.

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