Advertisements tout Alli as a healthy weight-loss drug. But according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, weight loss medications frequently pose risks of liver damage, which can lead to death. Alli is one of the drugs that pose such risks. A May 2010 FDA safety announcement states that the livers of some people who used Alli were severely injured. For other Alli users, the drug caused minor, but still bothersome, side effects.
Types
Alli, which is sold in 60mg capsules, is the brand name of the over-the-counter version of the drug orlistat. Orlistat is available under the name Xenical in 120mg prescription-only capsules. Orlistat, as either Alli and Xenical, is a type of drug called a lipase inhibitor. These drugs block the fat in the foods you eat from being absorbed by your intestines during digestion. The unabsorbed fat is then removed from your body when you have a bowel movement.
Consequences
The FDA report on the 40 million people on record as users of orlistat between April 1999 and August 2009 states that one Alli user in the United States and 12 Xenical users in other countries experienced liver injury. Two of these people died from liver damage and one needed a liver transplant. However, liver damage can happen even if a person takes no medication, says the FDA. Furthermore, some of the reported orlistat users were taking additional medications that can injure the liver.
Warning
The U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health cautions that users of orlistat should contact a physician if they experience health problems while taking the drug. Serious side effects that warrant medical attention right away include: hives, rash, itching, breathing or swallowing difficulty; sharp or unremitting abdominal pain; extreme exhaustion or weakness; nausea, vomiting or lack of appetite; pain in the upper right stomach area; eyes or skin turning yellow; and darkened urine
or abnormally light-colored stools.
Effects
The Library of Medicine and NIH say these milder side effects can occur when you start taking orlistat: Spots of oil on underwear or clothes; passing gas and experiencing oily spotting; strong urge to move your bowels; watery stools; oil or fat in stools; having to move your bowels more often; uncontrollable bowel movements; sore or uncomfortable rectum; pain in the stomach; menstrual cycle off schedule;
headache and feeling anxious
These effects usually stop within a year of starting orlistat. If they don't, or if they worsen, contact your physician.
Prevention
Alli and similar drugs don't prevent dieters from regaining lost weight once they discontinue the drugs. Studies cited in Paul Campos' book, "The Obesity Myth-Why American's Obsession with Weight is Hazardous to Your Health," found that most dieters eventually regain all the pounds they shed and many go on to gain even more. Such "yo-yo" dieting can cause high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes and diabetes, says Campos. He explains that a wiser way to live is to stop focusing on your body size, make lifelong wellness your goal, and make physical activity and eating in healthy ways daily habits.
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