Alli Side Effects
From Pharmacy Drug Guide
Alli, the over-the-counter brand name for orlistat, is a diet pill in a class of medications called lipase inhibitors. It prevents some of the fat in foods from being absorbed in the intestines. This unabsorbed fat is then removed from the body in the stool.[1] Alli is not an appetite suppressant, and does not contain stimulants. Up to 25 percent of fat ingested can be blocked by taking Alli.[2] The undigested fat that passes through the body causes some side effects related to the frequency and composition of bowel movements. Oily anal discharge can occur, and is most likely when users eat fatty food.
Alli is designed to be used with a low-calorie, low-fat diet and exercise program to help people lose weight. Orlistat is also available in a stronger prescription form called Xenical, used in overweight people who may also have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or heart disease. Alli is also used after weight loss to help people keep from gaining back the weight.[3]
 MyAlli.com | |
| Brand name for | Orlistat |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | GlaxoSmithKline[2] |
| Uses | Weight loss, fat blocker |
| Common side effects | Changes in bowel movement habits, oily spotting on underwear or on clothing, gas, urgent need to have a bowel movement, loose stools, oily or fatty stools, increased number of bowel movements, difficulty controlling bowel movements |
| Who should not take Alli | People under 18 years of age; people with eating disorders, orlistat allergies, gallbladder problems or chronic malabsorption syndrome. |
| Disclaimer | The information provided by PharmacyDrugGuide.com is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not take any action based on the information on this page without consulting a physician. |
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Common Alli Side Effects
The most common side effects of Alli involve changes in bowel movement habits. Alli can cause oil to be expelled from the rectum, which may stain underwear or other garments. It may cause users to "need to go" more frequently, or feel the urgent need to relieve themselves. In addition, Alli users may experience gassiness, abdominal pain, and period irregularity, and may find it more difficult to control their bowel movements.[3]
Some serious but less common side effects can also occur with Alli. These include reduced appetite, throwing up, rashes, severe abdominal pain, paler stool or darker urine, or jaundice.[3]
Those who experience a serious side effect may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone at 1-800-332-1088.[1]
About Drug Side Effects
Alli Allergic Reactions
Most Alli users don't have allergic reactions, and when they do they are generally not of a serious nature. However, some users may experience strong allergies. It is recommended that users seek medical care if they experience one or more of the following symptoms: hives, rash, itching, swollen face or other body parts, or difficulty breathing.[4]
Alli Precautions and Warnings
- Side effects like anal leakage are more likely when Alli users eat foods that contain over 30% fat.
- Alli may not be recommended for those who are using immune system-suppressing drugs like cyclosporine.
- Alli may not be right for those who have had an organ transplant or cholestasis malabsorption syndrome.
- Alli may not be right for those with an eating disorder, or for those suffering from diabetes, kidney stones, pancreatitis, or gallbladder or thyroid disease.[3]
- Alli is not suitable for pregnant women. In addition, it is unclear whether or not Alli can be passed to babies through their mothers' breast milk.[4]
- Diabetics who take Alli may find that when they lose weight, blood sugar decreases. While this is a positive effect, it may require adjustment of medications.[4]
- Alli can react with blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin).[4]
- Alli can cause reactions with diabetes drugs like metformin (Glucophage, Riomet) and insulin.[4]
- Allis users who accidentally miss a dose may take it within an hour or two after their meal, but not longer. If Alli is taken too long after a meal, the fat will already have been absorbed and it will not work.[4]
- There have been complaints of serious injury to the liver among Alli users, and the FDA is currently running a safety investigation.[5]
Also See: Alli Coupons, Diet Pill Side Effects, Diet Pills, Vitamin D, Vitamin D Side Effects, Hoodia Diet Pills, Acai Diet Pills, Green Tea Diet Pills
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a601244.html
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.myalli.com/About_alli/alli_in_the_body.aspx
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000175/
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-17220-orlistat+oral.aspx?drugid=17220&drugname=orlistat+oral
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alli/WT00030
