Anti obesity drugs work in one of two ways. There are the drugs that prevent the body from absorbing fat in consumed food, such as Xenical, and those which work directly on the brain, depriving it of achieving a ‘high’ from eating, which is how Acomplia and Reductil work.
A new drug that works on the second principle is currently being developed in the United States. It has already been licensed as a treatment for epilepsy and is now being developed as a treatment for addictions to cocaine and alcohol. It is thought that it will also be a suitable treatment for people wishing to eat less.
The drug is called Vigabatrin and stops the brain’s dopamine reward system, which is the basis for people becoming addicted to drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and food. Acomplia too, as well as proving extremely successful in helping people to lose weight, has also been found to help people quit smoking.
The American researchers said that Vigabatrin had no side effects in rats in the tests they carried out. The rats lost twelve to twenty percent of their body weight having been injected with the drug every day for forty days.
The drug has been available for many years as a treatment for patients suffering from epilepsy but carries a warning that it can cause ‘severe’ visual impairment and should only be prescribed after balancing all the pros and cons of the drug. Dr. Stephen Dewey, who was the lead scientist of the research in the States, however, said that these problems only arose when the drug was taken in much heavier doses than that which would be required for weight loss.
Vigabatrin is currently being tested on humans for cocaine and methamphetamine addiction. There are plans to conduct human trials using the drug to treat alcoholism and binge drinking.