For a person who is trying to lose weight, it is sometimes necessary to turn to medications to help shed the pounds. Xencial and Alli are both FDA-approved brand name versions of the generic drug weight loss drug orlistat. Xenical is available only with a doctor's prescription, while Alli is available over-the-counter.
Function
Both Xenical and Alli work by disabling lipase, an enzyme that helps the body to break down and absorb fat. By reducing the amount of fat absorbed by the body, the number of calories absorbed by the body is decreased, which can lead to weight loss. The fat that isn't absorbed by the body is flushed out as waste.
Identification
The Xenical pill and the Alli pill are both blue capsules; however, Xenical is dark blue and Alli is light blue. The imprint is different on each. The Xenical pill is marked "Xenical 120" on the top half of the capsule and "Roche" on the bottom half. The Alli pill is marked "Orlistat" on the top half of the capsule and "60" on the bottom half.
Dosage
The Alli pill is 60 mg and the Xenical pill is 120 mg, notes MayoClinic.com. The dosage instructions are also somewhat different. Three Alli pills are taken daily--one with each meal of the day. However, Xenical dosages depend on numerous factors, including the patient's medical history, the amount of weight to be lost, age and weight. Alli isn't approved for patients under 18 years old. Xenical may be prescribed for children as young as 12, but children must be supervised closely if they are prescribed Xenical.
Considerations
While taking Xenical or Alli, a low-fat diet with no more than 15g of fat per meal must be adhered to or the patient may suffer from treatment effects. Uncontrollable diarrhea, fecal incontinence, oily anal discharge, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting are some of the possible treatment effects for both drugs.
Warnings
Orlistat, the active ingredient in both Xenical and Alli, is being investigated by the Food and Drug Administration because of reports of liver damage. When taking either of these drugs, a patient must be vigilant about watching for signs of liver damage. Signs include weakness, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, itching, dark urine or clay-colored stool.
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