When it comes to diet pills, the proof of strength is in the results. Among the few FDA-approved prescription weight-loss medications, orlistat is the only drug that affects fat. It works by preventing the digestion and absorption of fat in foods. Plus it has the clinical results to support short and long-term weight loss. The two drawbacks are its uncomfortable side effects and rare reports of liver damage. Consult your doctor about your diet and whether orlistat may be beneficial to you.
Weight Loss Demand
Overweight and obesity are more common among adults than having a normal weight or being underweight, according to research published in the January 2010 issue of the "Journal of the American Medical Association." So it may come as no surprise that diet pills and weight-loss diets are in high demand. Yet, after responding to the brouhaha surrounding the latest and greatest new weight-loss products and diets, more people regain weight after a weight-loss program than maintain their weight loss or continue to lose more weight, according to a study published in the July 2007 issue of the "American Journal of Preventive Medicine."
Prescription Diet Pills
There are three FDA-approved prescription diet pills available in the United States, according to Howard LeWine, M.D., as reported by Tribune Media Services in October 2010, which are orlistat, phentermine and diethylpropion. Orlistat blocks absorption of dietary fat, reducing the amount of calories from food that enters your body. Phentermine and diethylpropion affect the area of your brain that reduces appetite. Sibutramine was a fourth prescription diet pill that also reduced appetite, but the manufacturer discontinued its sale after the FDA received reports that the drug caused heart valve damage. The FDA also rejected three other diet pills because of safety issues. Although none of the three current drugs are entirely safe, orlistat is the safest, according to LeWine.
Efficacy
Orlistat is FDA approved as a prescription weight-loss medication indicated for obesity management including weight loss when used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet. The FDA first approved orlistat in a 120 mg dosage under the trade name Xenical in 1999. The product works by preventing the absorption of one-third of fat from foods, which result in 5 to 10 percent weight loss starting in two weeks and continues long-term past one year. Due in part to the effectiveness of orlistat, the FDA approved an over-the-counter product containing 60 mg of the active pharmaceutical ingredient in 2007 that is sold under the Alli tradename.
Safety
When taking orlistat, you can experience unpleasant side effects that include gas, sudden bowel movements and oily stools. This is due to the unabsorbed fat that must travel through your intestines. In May 2010, the FDA authorized new labeling of orlistat to include information about potential severe liver damage that was reported in 13 cases, involving one in the United States and 12 foreign countries. However, the FDA acknowledges that investigators did not observe liver damage in clinical trials.
References
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration; FDA Drug Safety Communication ... Review of Xenical/Alli (Orlistat) and Severe Liver Injury; May 2010
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Prevalence and Trends in Obesity Among U.S. Adults, 1999-2008; Katherine Flegal, et al.; January 2010
- "American Journal of Preventive Medicine"; Weight Regain in U.S. Adults Who Experienced Substantial Weight Loss, 1999-2002; Edward Weiss, et al.; July 2007
- Tribune Media Services; Only 3 Prescription Weight-Loss Drugs Are Approved by the FDA; Howard LeWine; October 2010
- Genentech USA; Xenical Prescribing Information; December 2010
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Orlistat (Marketed as Alli and Xenical) Information; 2010
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