A Newly Emerging Therapy to Fight Obesity

Contributed by: Audrey Smith, Pharm.D.

Community Pharmacy Resident

Text Box: Fighting Obesity with a New Therapy While there are a wide array of products available both over-the-counter and by prescription to aid with weight loss, medical researchers have continued to focus efforts on developing new and innovative products for improved weight loss results. One therapy that may be available on the market in as early as 2006, is a medication called rimonabant (AcompliaTM). In clinical studies comparing rimonabant to placebo, rimonabant has shown confirmed benefits of weight loss and waist circumference reduction. Rimonabant works on the same chemical receptor in the brain as marijuana but with the opposite effect, resulting in decreased food intake and cravings. While rimonabant should not be used for cosmetic weight loss purposes, it appears that it will be especially helpful for overweight or obese individuals, particularly in shrinking abdominal obesity. Other Benefits of Rimonabant (AcompliaTM) Aside from its obesity-related benefits, rimonabant has shown to reduce triglycerides and increase HDL (good cholesterol), decreasing cardiovascular risk factors and contributing to improved heart

Text Box: health. Rimonabant has also shown to decrease insulin resistance and improve glucose tolerance, which may also contribute to weight reduction in individuals at risk for or with diabetes. And as if this medication sounds too good to be true already, rimonabant has also shown to decrease nicotine cravings too and may be approved as well for use as a smoking cessation aid in the future.
The Reality of Fighting Obesity While a “magic pill” may sound like the perfect option for weight loss and reducing risk factors associated with obesity, obesity is a chronic disease that cannot be cured but rather can be controlled. So the reality is…as with other chronic diseases, treatment must be continued indefinitely. Meaning that besides medication therapies available on the market today and in the future, lifestyle changes, such as increased physical activity and improved dietary choices and portion control, must be permanent to fight the obesity epidemic successfully.
Talk to your pharmacist or physician today for more information about you or a family member’s risk factors associated with be

Text Box: ing overweight or obese. Determine what steps are needed to meet overall health goals, and ask about whether or not a weight-loss medication is the right option in meeting these goals. For more information, including clinical studies, on rimonabant (AcompliaTM) visit: http://en.sanofi-aventis.com/ and search rimonabant. And for tips and resources related to maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle, as well as detailed dietary guidelines for Americans, visit: www.mypyramid.gov.

Milk Allergy vs. Lactose Intolerance: Is There a Difference?

Contributed by: Laura Leone, Pharm.D.

Community Pharmacy Resident

Text Box: The terms lactose intolerance and milk allergy are often used interchangeably to describe various reactions to milk. However, they are two separate disorders. Lactose intolerance occurs because some people lack a certain enzyme in the body’s small intestine that breaks down lactose. A milk allergy is the immune system's response to one or more of the proteins found in cow's milk. The two disorders are often confused because some of the common symptoms of a milk allergy are identical to the symptoms of lactose intolerance. What Is A Milk Allergy? Milk allergy is caused when the immune system reacts against the proteins found in

Text Box: milk. This happens due to the immune system to not learning to recognize milk proteins as being harmless. When unwanted substances (proteins) enter our body the immune system is altered and reacts against the proteins to destroy it and protect our body. When someone who has an allergy to milk ingests it, the proteins present in the milk come in contact with the immune system but unfortunately the immune system fails to recognize them as good proteins. Believing that they are unwanted and harmful proteins, the immune system begins the reaction against the protein causing what is termed hypersensitivity.

Text Box: Cow's milk is one of the most frequent food allergens. There are many proteins in cow's milk that cause allergic reactions. Casein and whey are the two main components. The curd that forms when milk is left to sour, is called casein. The watery part which is left after the curd is removed, is called whey. Casein accounts for 80 percent of the protein in milk and is the most important allergen.

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