Other benefits of diet drug

I read about a new drug that affects the body's cannabinoid receptors. It is supposed to curb appetite, lower cholesterol and block glucose.

Are you familiar with this drug? My doctor and I steer clear of typical diet drugs even though I am overweight (6 feet 3 inches and 285 pounds) because they raise blood pressure and I am pre-hypertensive.

Rimonabant (Acomplia) is a novel weight-loss drug awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration. The manufacturer, Sanofi-Aventis, hopes that it will get the green light to market this prescription medicine sometime this year.

Acomplia works by blocking receptors in the brain that are important for appetite.

In a yearlong study, people taking Acomplia lost 14 pounds more than those on placebo. The drug also appears to raise good HDL cholesterol, lower triglycerides and improve blood sugar and blood pressure control. Side effects may include depression, anxiety and nausea.



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For years, my knees have ached at night. I used Aleve, aspirin or Tylenol, and would usually have to take more about 3 a.m. I read in your column about using turmeric for arthritis pain. I took one capsule at bedtime and slept pain-free all night and every night since then. It is almost miraculous.

Studies show that turmeric, the yellow spice in curry, has anti-inflammatory properties.

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Joe Graedon, a pharmacologist, and Teresa Graedon, an expert in medical anthropology and nutrition, can be reached at http://www.peoplespharmacy.com or care of this newspaper.