Alli is the trade name for an over-the-counter diet pill that includes 60mg of a drug called orlistat, which works by affecting fat absorption in your intestines. GlaxoSmithKline, Alli's manufacturer states that in addition to FDA approval in 2007, the results of more than 100 clinical studies substantiate the safety of the Alli diet. However, orlistat is a drug that can produce unwanted effects when taken for extended periods, especially if you continually make poor food choices when taking Alli.
Dehydration
Lipase inhibitors, such as orlistat, disable the enzyme responsible for breaking down fat in your intestines. This results in most dietary fat remaining in undigested form, leaving your body through stools. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, even one high-fat meal can lead to digestive problems, and continually eating a diet too high in fat while taking Alli can result in unpleasant side effects that range from loose stools to chronic diarrhea you cannot control.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, diarrhea that lasts for more than two days results in a loss of not only water, but also the salts and minerals present in electrolytes that are essential for regulating water balance in your body. Complications of continuing dehydration can include low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, poor skin tone and in severe cases, seizures, permanent brain damage or death.
Vitamin Deficiency
Orlistat prevents the absorption of not only dietary fat, but also certain vitamins that must bind to fat in order for your body to absorb and use them. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E and K, as well as beta-carotene your body converts to vitamin A. Vitamin deficiencies can, over time, undermine your general health, leaving you susceptible to illness and a variety of diseases.
To prevent vitamin deficiency, you must not only take a daily multivitamin supplement, but also take it at the appropriate time so your Alli pill does not prevent absorption. According to the NCBI, for a multivitamin to be effective you must take it two hours before or after taking an Alli pill, or as an alternative, just before you go to bed at night.
Liver Damage
In May 2010, the FDA began requiring Alli packaging to include a warning regarding the possibility of severe liver injury, including liver failure, relating to prolonged use of the drug orlistat. Although 12 of 13 documented cases of liver damage involved the stronger, prescription version of orlistat, the warning serves as a way to educate consumers and underscore the need to see a doctor immediately if symptoms of liver problems appear. According to the FDA, symptoms of liver failure include itching, jaundice skin or eyes, muscle weakness and fatigue, light-colored bowel movements, loss of appetite and vomiting.
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