Alli (Orlistat) Diet Drug Gets FDA Approval
After receiving FDA approval, GlaxoSmithKline PLC will begin selling an over-the-counter version of the weight-loss drug, Xenical (orlistat), sometime this summer. The 60-milligram capsule will be marketed under the name, Alli, and is expected to cost about $1-$2 a day.
It will only be about half the strength of the prescription version of the drug.
Alli is only for people 18 years and older. It should be used in conjunction with a low-fat, reduced-calorie diet and exercise.
Apparently, by itself, it won’t do much for you.
Six-month clinical trials of the drug showed that obese people lost about 1 extra pound a month. Not a week, a month. That’s not much to write home about.
Especially when you consider the potential side effects.
Supposedly, gastrointestinal side effects are common with orlistat. These include explosive diarrhea, fecal incontinence, abdominal cramping, anal leakage and oily discharge.
Basically, it sounds like you’ll need adult diapers or you could be walking around with soiled pants. I can’t imagine that will smell too pleasant, either.
The drug may also reduce the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) and beta-carotene. I’ve talked about how risky this can be in “Low-Fat Diets: The Hidden Dangers.”
There are other potential side effects as well. For example, I believe that diabetics and people on immunosuppressant drugs are not supposed to take orlistat. But you should check with your doctor.
Is losing an extra pound a month worth the potential side effects? Is this just a way of preying on the desperation of obese people?
Maybe I’m missing the true benefit of the drug. But from what I’ve read, in my opinion, this sounds like an accident waiting to happen. (And I don’t mean the fecal kind.)
Technorati Tags: diet pills, diet drugs, diet, dieting, weight loss
February 8th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Ewwwww!!! I’d rather be fat.
February 8th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Don’t like the sound of that drug. I’ll pass.
February 8th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Most of the benefit is coming from diet and exercise. The drug doesn’t add much to weight loss. Why not just use diet and exercise? I don’t like the side effects.
May 11th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
I’ve been on it and if you don’t eat over 15 gms of fat at a meal, you don’t get side effects. If you get a shake, burger and frys at fast food, yes. It makes you watch what you eat. It gives accountability. Carrying around all the extra weight has it’s own side effects. I rather go to the bathroom- than have open heart like my mom.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
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September 10th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
I’ve been taking it since July and have lost 5 pounds. I exercise a lot, and watch my diet and have no side effects. I have a hypothyroid condition that was making me irregular and often constipated, now I have more regular bowel movements. To me it has been good, but I am watching for problems and won’t hesitate to discontinue it.