Alli is an over-the-counter drug that can help you lose 3 to 5 lbs. more each year than you would by just dieting and exercising, according to MayoClinic.com. However, if you have thyroid disease or another medical condition, such as pancreatitis or diabetes, talk to your doctor before taking Alli or any other type of weight loss drug.
Facts About Thyroid Conditions
The thyroid gland releases hormones that regulate virtually every organ in the body, notes the Hormone Foundation. If your thyroid is under-active, your metabolism and ability to lose weight are severely compromised. Usually, you must take drugs, such as Synthroid, to help normalize your thyroid functions and make it easier for you to control your weight. Note: It is dangerous to take thyroid-regulating drugs to lose weight if your thyroid works properly.
How Alli Works
Alli is a lower-dose form of the prescription diet drug Xenical, and dieters have been able to buy it over-the-counter since 2007, notes the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Orlistat, the primary ingredient of Alli, blocks the fat from the food you eat from being digested in your body. Your body passes the undigested fat as waste. Unlike other FDA-approved weight loss drugs, you can safely use orlistat for a year or longer.
Alli and Thyroid Medications
Alli does not interact with thyroid regulating medications such as Synthroid, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center Drug Checker. However, your doctor might need to adjust your thyroid medication dosage, depending on the amount of weight you lose from dieting and taking Alli. Also, you should take all of your medications and supplements at least two hours before or two hours after taking Alli. This practice ensures that your body properly absorbs all other medications and vitamins.
Alli Side Effects
You cannot eat whatever you want and lose weight while taking Alli, warns PubMed Health. If you eat high-fat meals while taking the drug, you’re much more likely to experience uncontrollable bowel movements, oily gas, fatty stools, rectal pain and stomachaches. Other common side effects include irregular menstrual periods, headaches and anxiety. In rare cases, Alli can cause severe liver damage; get immediate medical help if you become jaundiced, experience severe nausea or vomiting or pass light-colored stools or dark-colored urine.
References
- Weight-control Information Network; Prescription Medications for the Treatment of Obesity; December 2010
- PubMed Health; Orlistat; August 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Alli Weight-Loss Pill -- Does it Work?; June 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Drug Checker
- PubMed Health; Levothyroxine; September 2008
- The Hormone Foundation: Thyroid Disorders Resources
- Alli: FAQs
