Alli is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved weight-loss drug you can buy over the counter. While many diet drugs, including the appetite suppressant phentermine, can dangerously increase your blood pressure, Alli does not impact your blood pressure, according to PubMed Health. But if you are taking any type of medication for high blood pressure or another medical condition, speak to your doctor before using Alli.
High Blood Pressure Basics
High blood pressure, or hypertension, results when the heart pumps blood through your body with too much force against your arteries. In some cases, people who did not have high blood pressure before taking diet pills may develop secondary hypertension; this is not the case with Alli. You are at heightened risk for high blood pressure if you are overweight, do not exercise regularly, have diabetes, drink a lot of alcohol, use tobacco or get too much sodium in your diet. Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to heart attack, heart failure or stroke.
Alli Basics
Alli contains the lipase-inhibiting drug orlistat. When you take Alli before eating meals, the drug blocks the fat from your food from being digested by your body. You pass out the undigested fat through bowel movements. Unlike appetite suppressants, you can use Alli for months at a time. If you take Alli as directed, you should lose 3 to 5 lbs. more each year than you would by just dieting and exercising.
Potential Side Effects
While Alli does not affect your nervous system, it may wreak havoc on your digestive system if you eat high-fat meals while taking the drug, warns PubMed Health. You are more likely to suffer from oily gas, uncontrollable bowel movements, loose stools, fatty stools, stomachaches and rectal pain if you take Alli and eat a meal with more than 15 g of fat. You may also experience irregular menstrual periods while taking the drug.
Additional Considerations
If you want to boost your weight loss without increasing your blood pressure, talk to your doctor about prescription-strength orlistat. This dosage, marketed as Xenical, may help you lose 5 to 7 lbs. more each year, notes the Mayo Clinic. In rare cases, Alli and Xenical may cause severe liver injury. If you experience jaundice, light-colored stools or dark-colored urine while taking any type of orlistat seek immediate medical attention.
