Alli is an over-the-counter weight loss pill that contains the active ingredient orlistat, which belongs to a class of medication called lipase inhibitors. Orlistat decreases your small intestine's ability to absorb approximately 25 percent of the fat from the food you eat. Instead of being stored in your body, this fat is excreted in your stool. You should always speak with your doctor before taking any weight loss medication, including Alli.
Dosage
Alli comes in a capsule form to be ingested orally. It is usually taken three times per day with meals that contain some fat. Most of the fats in your meals should be unsaturated fats, such as those found in fatty fis, like salmon, nuts, seeds, nut butters, avocados and olive oil. The National Center for Biotechnology Information notes that orlistat must be taken with a meal that contains fat or one hour after a meal that contains fat. If you eat a meal that does not contain fat, you should not take your Alli dosage.
Precautions
It is important to closely monitor your fat intake. While taking Alli, you need to consume some fat at every meal, but consuming too much fat can increase your chances of developing unpleasant side effects. Your fat intake should not exceed 30 percent of your daily calories; this is approximately 67 g of fat, if you are on a 2,000-calorie diet. In addition to limiting fat intake, it is also important to divide fat intake evenly throughout the meals you eat. Consuming too much fat at one meal increases your risk of side effects.
Side Effects
Although anyone taking Alli has a risk of side effects, consuming too much fat increases your risk. The most common side effect of Alli use is a change in bowel habits -- gas with oily spotting, loose stools, fatty stools, the urgent need to have a bowel movement, difficulty controlling bowel movements, rectal pain, stomach pain, headache and anxiety. Although uncomfortable, these side effects are not considered serious. If you experience hives, rash, difficulty breathing, severe stomach pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, light stools or yellowing of the skin or eyes, you should contact your doctor immediately.
Considerations
Because orlistat blocks the absorption of a significant amount of the fat you eat, it also blocks the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K and beta-carotene. While taking Alli, you should also take a multivitamin that contains these specific vitamins. Take the multivitamin two hours before or two hours after taking Alli or directly before bedtime. Talk to your doctor before beginning any vitamin supplementation routine.
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