Patients lost an average of 21.2 pounds or 9.5 percent of body weight in six weeks when give a 800 calorie per day liquid meal replacement, which consisted of HMR 800 (Health Management Resources, Boston, Massachusetts, USA).

Information about the HMR 800 meal replacement shakes can be found here.

Note: A couple of weight loss doctors have told me that HMR makes the best meal replacement shakes of any they have tried.

Note: I have no financial ties to HMR or this product.

Here is an interesting post from “JohnTall”. I am posting it here so that more people will see it.

“Nearly two years ago I posted a note detailing my experience with Taranabant.  In that post I fudged my actual weights for concern that Merck might be able to identify me and end my participation in the trial.  Since then Merck has pulled the plug on Taranabant and I am no longer concerned about them knowing that I am posting.

My actual experience was that I started at 244 pounds and I lost to 183 in 101/2 months (61 pounds lost).  I then slowly regained 9 pounds to 192 and that was my weight when I left the study in December of 2007. I was in the study for 27 months.”

Merck has dropped development of the diet pill taranabant because of side effects according to a report by the Associated Press.

Comment: The adverse effects must have been pretty serious for them to drop the drug which surely would have made billions of dollars.

I would not be surprised if some subjects given the drug committed suicide as one woman noted that she had constant thoughts of suicide while taking taranabant and warned “In my opinion, this is a very dangerous drug and should not be allowed on the market at all.”

Here is a posting from a woman named Jennifer who was in one of the Taranabant studies who had extreme mood changes and constant thoughts of suicide while on the drug for only three weeks.

A dose of 2 mg of taranabant per day caused an average weight loss of 14.5 lbs in one year when combined with diet compared to 5.7 pounds for those given a placebo according to results presented yesterday at the 57th annual scientific session of the American College of Cardiology. Taranabant is a cannabinoid-1 receptor blocker similar to Acomplia ( rimonabant ).

The most commonly reported adverse effect in the taranabant study were gastrointestinal and occurred in 42 percent of those given 2 mg versus 47 percent in 4 mg versus 46 percent in 6 mg and 29 percent given placebo.

Psychiatric side effects were reported more often in those given taranabant than those given a placebo:

• 28 percent of those given 2 mg
• 40 percent of those given 4 mg
• 38 percent of those given 6 mg
• 20 percent of those given a placebo.

Events related to annxiety and depression, which included crying, tearfulness, altered mood, and mood swings, were reported more often in those given taranabant than those given a placebo:

• 5 percent of those given 2 mg
• 7 percent of those given 4 mg
• 7 percent of those given 6 mg
• 3 percent of those given a placebo.

Anxiety was reported more often in those given taranabant than those given a placebo:

• 5 percent of those given 2 mg
• 11 percent of those given 4 mg
• 9 percent of those given 6 mg
• 3 percent of those given a placebo.

Depression was reported more often in those given taranabant than those given a placebo:

• 9 percent of those given 2 mg
• 11 percent of those given 4 mg
• 11 percent of those given 6 mg
• 7 percent of those given a placebo.

Irritability was reported more often in those given taranabant than those given a placebo:

• 5 percent of those given 2 mg
• 9 percent of those given 4 mg
• 7 percent of those given 6 mg
• 2 percent of those given a placebo.

Those given taranabant were more likely to dropout of the study than those given a placebo:

• 13 percent of those given 2 mg
• 10 percent of those given a placebo.

In a one-day, one dose study, 4 mg of taranabant reduced food intake at lunch following the drug by 4 percent, whereas 12 mg reduced food intake by 27 percent compared to people given a placebo. For comparison, 30 of Meridia ( sibutramine ) reduced food intake at lunch by 20 percent.

In a one-day, one dose study, 4 mg of taranabant reduced food intake for the day by 1 percent, whereas 12 mg reduced food intake by 22 percent compared to people given a placebo. For comparison, 30 of Meridia ( sibutramine ) reduced food intake by 12 percent.

Although taranabant reduced food intake, no particular effect was seen on either carbohydrates, fat or protein.

In a one-day, one dose study, 12 mg of taranabant increased resting metabolism by 6 percent for three hours compared to 3 percent for when they were given 30 of Meridia ( sibutramine ).

A dose of 0.5 mg of the diet drug taranabant causes an average weight loss of 6.4 pounds in three months compared to 2.6 pounds for those given a placebo according to a new paper. Taranabant is similar to Acomplia ( rimonobant ) in that it is a cannabinoid 1 receptor inverse agonist, but it has not been approved for sale.

A dose of 2 mg of the diet drug taranabant causes an average weight loss of 8.6 pounds in three months compared to 2.6 pounds for those given a placebo according to a new paper. Taranabant is similar to Acomplia ( rimonobant ) in that it is a cannabinoid 1 receptor inverse agonist, but it has not been approved for sale.

A dose of 4 mg of the diet drug taranabant causes an average weight loss of 9 pounds in three months compared to 2.6 pounds for those given a placebo according to a new paper. Taranabant is similar to Acomplia ( rimonobant ) in that it is a cannabinoid 1 receptor inverse agonist, but it has not been approved for sale.

A dose of 6 mg of the diet drug taranabant causes an average weight loss of 11.7 pounds in three months compared to 2.6 pounds for those given a placebo according to a new paper. Taranabant is similar to Acomplia ( rimonobant ) in that it is a cannabinoid 1 receptor inverse agonist, but it has not been approved for sale.

In a dosing study of the diet drug taranabant, anxiety was reported by

• 2.9 percent of those given a placebo
• 1.9 percent of patient given 0.5 mg
• 2.8 percent of those given 2 mg
• 4.8 percent of those give 4 mg
• 10.2 percent of those given 6 mg.

In a dosing study of the diet drug taranabant, nervousness was reported by

• 0.0 percent of those given a placebo
• 1.9 percent of patient given 0.5 mg
• 2.8 percent of those given 2 mg
• 2.9 percent of those give 4 mg
• 3.7 percent of those given 6 mg.

In a dosing study of the diet drug taranabant, inappropriate mood, altered mood, crying or tearfulness was reported by

• 3.8 percent of those given a placebo
• 3.8 percent of patient given 0.5 mg
• 2.8 percent of those given 2 mg
• 7.6 percent of those give 4 mg
• 8.3 percent of those given 6 mg.

In a dosing study of the diet drug taranabant, depression was reported by

• 2.9 percent of those given a placebo
• 4.7 percent of patient given 0.5 mg
• 5.5 percent of those given 2 mg
• 6.7 percent of those give 4 mg
• 5.6 percent of those given 6 mg.

In a dosing study of the diet drug taranabant, irritability was reported by

• 1.9 percent of those given a placebo.
• 7.5 percent of patient given 0.5 mg
• 7.3 percent of those given 2 mg
• 8.6 percent of those give 4 mg
• 2.8 percent of those given 6 mg.