Alli, an over-the-counter weight loss medication, contains the active ingredient of orlistat, which is the main ingredient in the drug Xenical. Alli is the first over-the-counter pill approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This weight loss medication is meant to complement a low-fat, low-calorie diet and exercise program and not to be the sole agent of this diet plan. Alli blocks the absorption process of fat in the intestines; specifically, 25 percent of fat that you eat is not absorbed and stored. Potential side effects may occur.
Diarrhea
Typically, being on this diet plan involves taking three Alli pills daily to correspond with each meal that contains fat. The 25 percent of fat that isn't absorbed is excreted from the body through the bowels, so you likely will experience gastrointestinal changes during the first few weeks of being on the diet. The most common effect is frequent diarrhea, according to the product's website Myalli.com. The diarrhea tends to be sudden, uncontrollable, and urgent, with watery stools. This is effect can be anticipated to occur when more than 15 g of fat is consumed per meal; therefore, you should be cautious and stay well under this 15 g marker in order to prevent what Myalli.com refers to as "treatment effects."
Gas and Oily Stools
Alli pills may cause excessive gas with oily spotting or discharge from the anus after eating a fatty meal, states RxList.com. The medication interferes with the production and action of lipase, an intestinal enzyme that helps break down dietary fat. Decreased function of this enzyme leaves the body with the only option of excreting undigested fat via unpleasant oily stools. Also, the expectation that Alli pills likely will produce a residual oily discharge suggests that it may stain your clothing.
Decreased Vitamin Absorption
Absorbing less dietary fat due also can interfere with the absorption of needed vitamins. Alli blocks fat from being absorbed, which means that it also blocks the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins; for example, vitamins such as vitamin A, D, E and K are absorbed through fat into the body. RxList.com advises taking a fat-soluble vitamin at least 2 hours before or after taking Alli.
Liver Risk
In 2010, the FDA approved labeling changes as a safety precaution for both Alli and Xenical. This revision came after the FDA's review identified 13 reports of rare but serious liver injury in individuals who were on orlistat. Signs of liver problems include dark urine, fatigue, jaundice and clay-colored stools. You should contact your doctor immediately if you take Alli and start experiencing signs and symptoms indicating possible liver problems.
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