Many weight-loss drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration work by suppressing your appetite. Alli is the brand name for a reduced-strength, nonprescription medication called orlistat. Alli won't help control your appetite, hence the need to incorporate use of this weight-loss aid with dietary and lifestyle changes.
What Alli Does
Many weight loss medications work by suppressing or controlling your appetite, according to the manufacturer's website. Additionally these medications may cause hypertension and an increased heart rate. Alli and Xenical, prescription-strength orlistat, are classified as lipase inhibitors, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, or NCBI. Rather than controlling your appetite, Alli prevents your intestines from absorbing some of the fat you eat in food. Fat that's not absorbed passes through your intestines and is expelled when you have a bowel movement.
Proper Use
Alli comes in the form of a capsule and is taken orally, three times a day with main meals. According to the NCBI, you can take Alli either during a meal or up to an hour after. Divide your daily fat, protein and carbohydrates across meals evenly. If you eat a high-fat diet--one in which you get more than 30 percent of your calories from fat--you're likely to notice certain side effects of this medication. If you eat a meal that doesn't contain any fat, there's no need to take Alli with it, states the NCBI.
Alli Results
To get the best benefits from taking Alli, dieters need to forge a healthier relationship with food and understand the difference between true hunger and emotional eating, states the manufacturer's website. A healthy "calorie-appropriate" diet, as well as exercise, are necessary ingredients to lose weight with Alli. However, Mayo Clinic expert Donald Hensrud, M.D., states that your weight loss with Alli won't be dramatic. Its prescription-strength equivalent, Xenical, results in between 5 to 7 lbs of weight loss a year. Alli, which is half the strength of Xenical, may give you an addition 3 to 5 lbs of weight loss on top of the weight you lose from diet and exercise.
Cautions
Alli can cause side effects, especially if you eat more fat than is recommended. These may include stomach pain, oily gas, oily spots on your undergarments, loose or oily bowel movements, numerous bowel movements or the inability to control your bowels. You need a multivitamin if you use Alli as a weight loss aid, states the NCBI, as it also inhibits absorption of vitamins and minerals.
Take a multivitamin once daily, two hours before or after taking Alli or right before you go to bed. Finally, the American Academy of Family Physicians indicates that in June 2010, the FDA completed a safety review of Alli. This lead to revised labeling warning consumers of severe liver injury associated with this drug. Stop using Alli and contact your doctor if you experience fatigue, fever, jaundice, dark urine and light-colored bowel movements.
What Doctors Recommend
Alli is one weight-loss aid that's approved by the FDA for long-term use; most weight loss medications are approved for 12 weeks of use, says MayoClinic.Com. Regardless of the weight loss medication you take, keep in mind that if you stop using the drug, you'll regain weight unless you've made permanent changes to your eating habits and lifestyle. Consult with your treating doctor so you can learn all of the benefits and risks associated with Alli.
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