Rimonabant, a Promising Anti-Obesity Drug, Appears to Increase Risk for Depression

Rimonabant, a cannabinoid type 1 receptor blocker, is available in several European countries for treatment of obesity. In four related manufacturer-sponsored trials, patients who took rimonabant (20 mg daily) for 6 to 12 months had 4 kg to 6 kg greater weight loss than patients who received placebo. Each trial showed a nonsignificant trend toward increased treatment discontinuation because of depressive symptoms with rimonabant. Investigators now report the results of a meta-analysis of these trials with particular attention to psychiatric adverse effects.

A total of 4105 obese patients were followed for 1 year. Significantly more rimonabant recipients than placebo recipients discontinued treatment because of depressed mood disorders (3.0% …