Alli is an over-the-counter weight-loss drug that can help you lose up to 3 to 5 lbs. more per year than you would have with just diet changes and increased exercise, notes MayoClinic.com. But the main ingredient in Alli, orlistat, carries a risk of numerous side effects, including serious liver injury.
Alli Basics
Alli consists of 60 mg of orlistat. Orlistat blocks the fat in your food from being digested, which potentially helps with weight loss. You pass the undigested fat out of your body through bowel movements. If you have a lot of weight to lose, you can ask your doctor for prescription Xenical, which has 120 mg of orlistat.
Liver Damage Investigation
In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began investigating claims that Alli caused some dieters severe liver problems. Thirty-two people claimed orlistat damaged their livers and six people suffered from liver failure after taking the drug, according to "U.S. News and World Report." But because overweight people are more prone to suffering from liver problems anyway, FDA officials have not been able to determine whether orlistat is solely responsible for the reported liver problems.
Labeling
In May 2010, the FDA required the manufacturers of orlistat to include warning labels that the drug may be responsible for rare cases of liver injury. If you suffer from jaundice, itching, yellow eyes, loss of appetite, severe abdominal pain, dark-colored urine or light-colored stools after taking Alli or another type of orlistat you should immediately contact a doctor.
Considerations
If you eat high-fat meals and take Alli, you may suffer from bowel problems, warns PubMed Health. You should skip an orlistat dose if you plan to eat a meal with more than 15 g of fat within it or a very low-fat meal. If you take Alli and eat a lot of fat, you will likely experience severe rectal and stomach pain, uncontrollable bowel movements, oily or fatty stools and gas that leaks oil onto your underwear. Also, you should not take the drug more than three times daily. Do not take Alli or any form of orlistat if you have existing problems absorbing food as the result of an illness or weight-loss surgery, a history of eating disorders or if you are pregnant or nursing.
