The manufacturers of Alli recommend you accompany use of their over-the-counter diet aid with a healthy eating plan. Alli will not help you to lose weight unless it is accompanied with a healthy eating plan and, in fact, the side effects of eating a high fat diet and consuming Alli can be disastrous. Alli works by binding some of the fat in your diet with the medication and flushing it out of your system. A lot of fat can cause bowel accidents.
History
Alli is an over-the-counter medication developed by GlaxoSmithKline and approved for general use by the FDA in 2006. In 2007 Alli became available as the first weight loss drug approved for over the counter use. The standard dose is 60mg taken three times per day with meals. Manufacturer studies show that Alli can absorb up to 30 percent of the dietary fat in your meals. The fat is flushed out through the colon as waste material, instead of being absorbed into the body. It is essential that you find a healthy diet to get the maximum effect of the Alli. The company website reports that most weight is lost during the first six months of taking Alli, although there is no recommendation for the length of use of the medication.
Types
There are many different types of diets that are appropriate for use with Alli. Information at Drugs.com suggests that any diet with fewer than 30 percent of its calories -- ideally fewer than 15g per meal -- from fat will be effective. Commercial diets such as Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig both work to keep the fat percentages under 30 percent and would be appropriate. Additionally, devising your own diet with fewer than 30 percent of calories from fat is possible using fitday.com or myPyramid.gov.
Method
You will take the Alli prior to each meal and it will absorb as much as 30 percent of the fat you ingest. If your fat intake for any meal is extremely low, it's okay to skip the Alli with that meal. Planning with any diet is essential because Alli works best if your fats, proteins and carbohydrates are distributed evenly throughout the day.
Effects
The manufacturer claims that Alli can boost your weight loss by about 50 percent, making a 10 lb weight loss into a 15 lb weight loss while using the medication. The cost for the weight loss occurs on the digestive tract. Information at drugs.com reports that nearly 25 percent of people taking Alli will experience loose stools, abdominal pain, gas and oily spotting. More than one in five will experience sudden urges to have a bowel movement and eight percent have experienced fecal incontinence. A healthy diet plan that is low in fat can alleviate many of these side effects.
Warning
Alli can cause malabsorption of some vitamins. People taking Alli should take a multivitamin each day at least two hours before or after a dose of Alli. Alli also negatively affects several medications. Major adverse reactions, according to drugs.com, are with cyclosporine and leflunomide. Consult with your health care provider before beginning Alli.
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