Alli is the non-prescription version of the weight loss medication Xenical. It provides 60 mg of the drug orlistat compared to Xenical's 120 mg. Although you can buy Alli over the counter, talk with your doctor before taking this medication, especially if you have a history of high blood pressure or any other health problems.
Orlistat
Orlistat should be part of a weight loss program that includes a low-calorie, low-fat diet and exercise, according to Medline Plus, a service of the National Library of Medicine. The medication is a lipase inhibitor and prevents your intestines from absorbing some of the fat from foods you eat. The unabsorbed fat then leaves your body in stools. The most common side effects of Alli are related to this activity, such as gas with discharge, frequent or loose stools and diarrhea. While the prescription drug was developed first and was generally intended for overweight individuals with additional health problems such as high blood pressure, orlistat has also been connected with an occurrence of high blood pressure.
Reported Incident
A previously healthy woman who had been taking orlistat on an occasional basis developed hypertension after increasing the dosage to 120 mg three times per day, notes Drugs.com. Her blood pressure was 190/100 mm/Hg on three different measurements during medical examination. Normal blood pressure is defined as less than 120/80. Within a few days after she stopped taking orlistat, her blood pressure decreased to 160/90 mm/Hg.
Research
Orlistat use is generally associated with a reduction in blood pressure related to weight loss in overweight individuals. A study published in the November 2002 issue of the "Journal of Hypertension" found that participants taking orlistat and consuming a low-calorie, low-fat diet experienced greater weight loss than those taking a placebo. They also experienced a greater decrease in diastolic blood pressure, represented by the lower number, at an average of 11.4 mmHg lower, compared with 9.2 mmHg lower on average. Another study appearing in the journal in November 2003 found that participants taking orlistat and eating a low-calorie, low-fat diet, experiencing an average reduction in systolic blood pressure, represented by the upper number, of 15.3 mmHg and an average reduction in diastolic blood pressure of 11.4 mmHg. The placebo group eating the same type of diet had decreases of 11.6 and 5.2 mmHg, respectively.
Considerations
Medline Plus does not list high blood pressure as a contraindication for orlistat use. Alli also does not interact with medications for high blood pressure, so you can safely take both medications, according to the Alli official website. Ask your health-care provider any questions you have about taking Alli.
References
- Drugs.com: Alli Side Effects
- Medline Plus: Orlistat
- "Journal of Hypertension"; Orlistat Improves Blood Pressure Control In Obese Subjects With Treated But Inadequately Controlled Hypertension; G. Bakris, et al.; November 2002
- "Journal of Hypertension"; Orlistat in Hypertensive Overweight/Obese Patients; K.V. Bloch; November 2003
- Alli: Frequently Asked Questions
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: High Blood Pressure
