Karnataka drugs control department has issued a circular to stop the production and sales of Rimonabant. This order comes well before the drugs controller general of India circular to all the state departments.

"Going by the reports on the ban of Rimonabant across the world, we have taken a decision to ensure that this product is not available in the state. We are giving the pharmacy outlets across the state a month's time to withdraw and return all samples to the manufacturers," Dr BR Jugashetty, drugs controller, government of Karnataka told Pharmabiz.

The drug inspectors will start accessing the sales outlets to ensure that the products are off the shelf and dispatched to the companies, he added.

Rimonabant has been a popular drug prescribed by the department of Bariatrics. The drug has not known to report any adverse reaction so far. Rimonabant formulations are available at the hospital pharmacies but with the ban on the drug, the healthcare providers have issued instructions internally to disallow the drug sales. The next option before doctors after Rimonabant is Orlistat which is finding prescription, according to a section of doctors at Manipal Hospital, Columbia Asia and Sagar Hospital.

Obesity experts at hospitals stated that Orlistat has a good effect on people who consume heavy or fatty meals.

Another drug Sibutramine is also prescribed for weight management. Sibutramine has several brands manufactured by many pharma companies in the country including Bangalore-based Micro Labs. The drug is devoid of amphetamine- like abuse potential. Its primary and secondary 'amine metabolites' are pharmacologically known to induce satiety. It is recommended for weight loss and maintenance of weight loss with reduced calorie diet, stated doctors dealing with obesity therapies.

The anti-obesity market in India is valued at Rs 75 crore. Leading players in the country include Sun Pharma, Cadila, Cipla, Glenmark, Torrent, Dr Reddy's, Ranbaxy and Intas.

Anti-obesity drugs play a minor role in the management of obesity. It is prescribed only to compliment the effects of diet and exercise which remains the primary modality for weight loss. A weight loss of around five to 10 percent with anti obesity drugs can be expected, Dr Tulip Chamany, consultant, Minimal Invasive and Bariatric Surgeon, BGS Global Hospitals.

In India around 2.2 crore people suffer from obesity. Change in lifestyle, inability to lose weight in spite of best efforts in diet and exercise has increased patients demand for an alternative. Surgery is prescribed for those who are morbidly obese and it provides long term weight loss. Post surgery, patients have been able to do away with most of the diabetes and hypertensive medications as well as avoid joint replacement surgeries after the weight loss. A study has indicated that 95 per cent of patients no longer needed medications for diabetes, 92 per cent stopped drugs for hypertension and 82 per cent patients found relief from joint pain.

Around 70 to 80 per cent of excess weight is lost after the surgery and patients have been able to maintain the weight loss over 18 to 20 years. It has also been seen that 95 to 97 per cent of people have gained back their weight in five years after stopping anti-obesity medicines, pointed out, Dr Chamany.