Rimonabant for treating tobacco dependence.
Tobacco use continues to cause 5 million preventable deaths worldwide each year. Despite effective treatments being available, these are underutilized and cessation rates remain low. As tobacco use has complex physiological effects, there are multiple opportunities for novel pharmacological agents to play a role in a comprehensive treatment plan. The endocannabinoid system has been linked to the nicotine reward pathways in animal models. Rimonabant, a selective cannabinoid receptor (type 1) blocker, has been shown in some early clinical trials to have some positive effects in increasing abstinence rates of smokers attempting to stop. In addition, smokers who stop smoking with the assistance of rimonabant may gain less weight than those using placebo. However, the results from these few trials have not been entirely consistent and so its role as an aid to smoking cessation remains to be determined.
Steinberg
Michael B
MB
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Public Health, Tobacco Dependence Program, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. michael.steinberg@umdnj.edu
Foulds
Jonathan
J
D000818:Animals; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000077285:Rimonabant; D012907:Smoking / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*
D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D000077285:Rimonabant
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