FirstMed Consulting Blog

It was announced earlier this week that Rimonabant (brand name Acomplia) will be made available to overweight or obese patients on the NHS. Acomplia is already used by thousands of Britons, and, coupled with exercise; it could help patients lose up to 10% of their body weight.

Firstmed has been supplying Acomplia for several months and it’s going well. Now the availability of Acomplia on the NHS is more good news for patients for whom orlistat and sibutramine are not effective.

Dr David Haslam, the clinical director of the National Obesity Forum, said that he welcomed its approval for NHS use and said “This is a very good drug, and there are very many people who have tried everything else, including other drugs, with little success, who might benefit from it.”

It is also important to note that whilst Acomplia may be right for some patients, it is not the long-term solution and may have potentially serious side-effects. Doctors have been told not to give it to patients with a history of major depression, and to be alert for new symptoms of depression in patients taking the drug.

The Nice guidance recommends rimonabant “as an addition to diet and exercise for adults who are obese or overweight and who have had an inadequate response to, are intolerant of or are contraindicated to orlistat and sibutramine”.

For more information on Acomplia visit our FAQ page

Everywhere you look in supermarkets these days you will see the words ‘five a day ‘. This is basically a campaign to encourage people to eat enough nutrients to maintain a healthy body. What you eat and drink influences every aspect of your life, down to how you perform in the bedroom. Just like an athlete, your diet can hinder or enhance your performance. Male impotence is caused from lack of blood flow around the body. Regardless of whether or not you are taking oral treatments such as Viagra, Cialis or Levitra, by eating properly you can reduce your chances of suffering from erectile dysfunction. Here your 5 a day tips to consider as a supplement to enhance your treatment

5 Tips for a Better Erection

Avoid Animal Products: Lower your intake of animal products! You should avoid foods with high cholesterol including foods from animals or animal products.

Go Green : Vegetables contain high amounts of antioxidants and micro nutrients, which are critically important for normal semen quality and reproductive function. Always choose whole grains, fresh, unrefined and unprocessed foods. Avoid fast food, canned, and frozen foods. Consider these delicious food choices to help with impotence: Pears, Blueberries, Apples (with skin), Strawberries, Peas, Baked Potatoes, Spaghetti (whole grain), oatmeal.

Water: The list is endless for the benefits of water. However, still most people do not get enough water each day. Water is a natural detox for the body and could be a factor for curing impotence.

Reduce Alcohol Intake: Most men will be familiar with the term “brewer’s droop” - a temporary form of alcohol related erectile dysfunction. You don’t have to give up drinking altogether, just avoid large quantities. Blood alcohol content > .06 will lead to loss of sensation, inability to reach orgasm, and temporary impotence.

Stop Smoking: It is thought that smoking is responsible for ED in 120,000 men in the UK aged between 30 and 49. Enough said really

Since its launch back in 1998 Viagra has undoubtedly had a significant impact on sexual norms and patterns. Prior to the so-called ‘magic blue pill’ revolution, it was assumed that couples over a certain age were spending more time in the garden center than in the boudoir. These days it’s a different story altogether. There are countless stories about the negative impact Viagra has had on marriages. In fact the number of Viagra divorces is well documented. What all this implies is that Viagra has turned men into sex crazed fiends, a state which is at odds with their wives. Stories abound about how Viagra has made men more interested in sex (wherever they can get it) and how women over a certain age have lost interest in sex completely. I wonder how accurate this portrayal is? Is seems insulting to both sexes to suggest that men have no self control or preference for who they sleep with and that women have no interest in having sex with their husbands.

I recently read a study which told a different story. Impotence drugs may do more than help men physically have sex — they may also boost levels of a hormone linked with feelings of love. Scientists have found that the little blue pill stimulates production of the love hormone oxytocin, which is believed to promote romantic feelings and bonding between couples. The chemical is released during orgasm and also has an important role in social interaction, childbirth and breastfeeding. This discovery that anti-impotence drugs can also make men love their women more seems to fly in the face of previous portrayals of Viagra as a marriage wrecking ball.