I Sure Hope No One Is Taking Alli
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
August 25, 2009 6:40pm CST
I heard this on the news last night that the FDA is finding a possible link to liver damage when one is using the popular over the counter weight loss product Alli.
Alli which contains the drug orlistat is made by one of the pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKline and under prescription strength by Roche as Xenical.
Ironically our "wonderful" FDA approved Alli as a weight loss program some years ago, yet is now cautioning people that use or may use it as now they think there are links to liver damage.
Here's an excerpt from an article I found
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Regulation/FDA-investigates-weight-loss-drug-Alli-for-liver-damage
(Warning: NOT a referral link but to an article)
[i]FDA yesterday updated drug surveillance information on its website, which lists all products that are identified as potentially harmful. Amongst the new products added to the list was orlistat, a weight loss drug sold by GSK under its Alli brand and by Roche as the prescription product Xenical.
The potential risk was identified via an adverse event reporting system for drugs, which highlighted possible liver problems (hepatotoxicity) linked to the products.
FDA says that the addition of a drug to this surveillance list does not mean that a causal relationship between the drug and the listed risk has been identified. “It means that FDA has identified a potential safety issue.”
[/i]
It was only a few months ago that the FDA warned about another popular weight loss system known as Hydroxycut which can also cause liver damage
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/01/hydroxycut.fda.recall/index.html
To my mind this is proof of how inadequate our FDA is in that they don't test any product long enough to measure the safety until reports come in from people suffering from severe side effects....like when is the FDA going to clean up it's act and test for longer periods for any drug type product whether over-the-counter or prescription
Have any of you used Alli? If you are maybe you should consider in stop taking it. Do any of you use any kind of drug/supplement for weight loss?
10 people like this
16 responses
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
26 Aug 09
Hi Pye! Thought I'd drop in to see what's going on.
This is one report I'm really glad you are discussing. My daughter was on this last year for a while and I'm really glad right now she's been off it for some time. She really liked it too. I sent her both reports so she can read it.
She's on weight watchers right now and likes it very much. Thanks so much for keeping us informed on such important matters! I'd like to know when the FDA is going to clean up their act too. Doesn't seem like whatever they say is good anymore, not that I believed them anyway. I still do my own thing because usually when they say something is safe, a few years later it's not. Buncha Crap!
4 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Aug 09
I'm glad to hear your daughter isn't using that...coughs, coughs, crap anymore...LOL and instead on weight watchers. Yeah, the FDA needs to clean up it's act as far as telling the public was it safe cause yes sure enough some time later we're hearing something isn't safe
@eaforeman6 (8979)
• United States
26 Aug 09
I saw this on the news. I wish that they would do more testing before releasing these meds. I have a friend who has been on this for a long time. She has other health problems and I know that she will be shocked to hear this.@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Aug 09
Not that I need to be on a weight loss program as I'm thin enough...LOL..but out of curiosity when I first heard of Alli I wanted to see how much it was.....yikes its not cheap!! I wonder if your friend has health problems triggered by Alli????
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Aug 09
I don't know if that's true about the length of time the FDA tests...look at the flu vaccine...they only started testing the swine flu vaccine for a month and by next month will be out for people...have a bad feeling about that
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
30 Aug 09
Most of the diet pills out there are doing some sort of damage. We could take PAGES to list all the ones that have been pulled for heart problems and such. Not to mention the emotional ordeal people go through when they lose all this weight, stop taking the pills and then gain it all back - PLUS some.
One big problem with supplements is that they are not FDA regulated. And a lot of these "miracle" cures squeak through as a supplement. You really need to do your own research - and talk to your doctor - before starting any new "fad" that comes out.
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
1 Sep 09
They just don't do enough research on this stuff. It's like they all want to make a buck real quick and push it through, only to find out later that it's not such a great idea to have this being consumed by people.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
1 Sep 09
The real ironic part though is that when Alli first came out it WAS FDA regulated and approved. they must have been sleeping on the job to now only find out how harmful it can be
2 people like this
@jtr115 (722)
• United States
6 Sep 09
I have previously used Alli and its prescription form Xenical. I hadn't heard about it carrying a risk of liver damage, though there are several medications out there today which do have that risk. The only side effect I noticed was a brownish-orange discharge (the fat which was blocked from being absorbed into my body) during flatulence and stools. Thank you for informing me about this.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Sep 09
Someone else mentioned here that a friend of theirs was taking Alli and they had green-colored stools...ewwwwwww
@harmonee (1228)
• United States
9 Sep 09
I'm not taking Alli and don't really have any desire to. I looked into it when the product first came out and the fact that it pretty much makes you sick if you eat something that isn't good for you or eat too much just doesn't sound safe or good. How is that any different from having an eating disorder. It just didn't seem like a good idea or that it would be health in the long run. Sometimes I wish that before things like this hit the market that they would do long term studies. You never know how these things are going to effect your body 20 or 30 years down the line. Hopefully all these people pumping themselves full of weight loss and energy supplements end up being okay down the road.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Sep 09
That's the problem with the pharmaceutical companies...they don't test any kind of medication or product long enough...they're too busy and in a hurry in wanting to make money so get the product out as fast as possible
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
26 Aug 09
They are rushing with approval for those who pay more and will never approve the simple, safe solutions that are actually working if an average Joe try to make to the market...
Whatever you don't understand on your label is most likely not good for you....yet FDA let people to become easy victims of greedy corporation...
Too much to talk about...
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
26 Aug 09
I recommend the book:"Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and Stick You with the Bill)"
They have this on CD and you can rent it from local library.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Aug 09
Thank goodness I've never had a serious weight problem, but if I did, yes, that Alli is very expensive
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
26 Aug 09
I remember when Allie was first approved and I think it may have been Jay Leno who pointed out it was on their own website that users should take an extra pair of pants when they took it. One of the side effects was apparently dirtying your pants...EWWW!!! Anyway, at the time I didn't think they'd studied it long enough to be sure what long term effects may be. I think people should face the fact that there's no magic pill to lose weight, nothing that's going to make it just melt off and still be healthy and safe to take. There are lots of different opinions about whether we need less fat or no carbs or whatever but the bottom line is to lose weight you have to burn more calories than you take in. I've thought of trying some kind of supplement to lose weight since I've gained since I stopped delivering mail but they're all so expensive, which is probably a good thing, right?
Annie
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
28 Aug 09
So I guess if she was wearing green pants she'd be OK then...lol...SORRY!!
I know what you mean about what healthy and what's not and fat is bad but no fat is bad...what's supposed to kill you today will be the new miracle cure tomorrow and vice versa.
Annie
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Aug 09
One person hear mentioned that her friend's mother was taking it, and created green colored poop......ewwwwww
Yes it can be darn confusing as to what is or isn't healthy to eat...seems like once a week at least some "new' health factor is announced--like as far as fats...one is told to reduce fat intake on one hand and yet for health benefits one should have the Omega-3 oils...like huh?
Yes it can be darn confusing as to what is or isn't healthy to eat...seems like once a week at least some "new' health factor is announced--like as far as fats...one is told to reduce fat intake on one hand and yet for health benefits one should have the Omega-3 oils...like huh?1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47274)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
26 Aug 09
I don't use it. Up until yesterday, I'd never even heard of it.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47274)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
26 Aug 09
I rarely watch TV, and only Canadian stations at that.
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
12 Sep 09
As much as I want to loss some weight, I'm afraid of taking ANY weight loss supplement because of the one that came out years ago, what's it called? that damaged so many people's hearts. I've been waiting for one to come out that is safe and so far, that isn't happening so I stay a little "chunky". LOL
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Sep 09
Aww--come on now CatsandDogs...I've seen photos of you and you're far from being "chunky". A lot of different weight loss supplements have been recalled in the past--I guess none are really safe
@jtr115 (722)
• United States
19 Sep 09
I think it was called Xenadrine or something similar (I remember it began with an X.) I've always had trouble staying on a diet since I had withdrawal symptoms from stopping all fatty foods immediately. Right now I'm slowly cutting back on fatty foods to reduce those symptoms. I've replaced some of those foods with lower-fat versions and I'm eating others less often. Whenever possible, I buy raw foods and frozen entrees from the organic section of the supermarket.
1 person likes this
@Little_Stormy (6883)
• United States
26 Aug 09
That's how Alli works, Pye! It kills your liver.. thus making you feel too sick to eat and thus causing weigh loss! DUH! But you are gonna have one great looking corpse! :)
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Aug 09
Hiya gal...aww...don't you like teddy bears..just noticing your avatar...LOL I guess a lot of people want a great looking corpse...
@doormouse (4599)
•
26 Aug 09
i haven't taken Alli but i have been prescribed Orlistat in the past,which is a stronger version of Alli,it was ok but i didn't manage to lose all the weight i needed to
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Aug 09
I guess the only real way to lose weight is to just eat healthier and in moderation
@jaizhi (260)
• Philippines
26 Aug 09
I havent tried any weight lossing pills or any sort since I am also thin ... super thin... Maybe it there will be pills that can make me fat... that I will surely take... Thanks for posting this... I am copying the link of the news to post in on my YM so that my friends will be aware to... I know some of them have weigh problems.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 Aug 09
LOL--I'm thin too, so never needed a diet type product..thank goodness
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
26 Aug 09
hi pyewacket this has answered my questions about Alli as i
had considered using it wow. bad enough that my prescription'
ibuprofin that doctor was giving me for my artritis caused
me to have some kidney damage until after a year off it my'kidneys
showed they were now okay. remember when they finally discovered'that Avandia considered the best thing for diabetes was actually found to cause heart attacks in some people.well the other side effects were never talked about but I found out when I gained 45 pounds in a week had legs just huge and then I fell and smashed my left shoulder, had to have a shoulder joint replacement, and while in the hospital found I was anemic.I readd the literature on avandia then side effect possible bone loss, causes some anemia and swelling of legs and arms, and edema whoopee so I said to mydoctor take me off avandia at once, he put me on metformin which has beenout forever and has few if any side effects.Avandia should be taken clear off the shelves.I havent had any side effects from Metformin thank goodness. I dont take any weight loss supplements as most have some bad side effects. I had enough of that with Avandia. I now cannot lift my left arm more than ten inches up so its literally useless for even just grasping the side of a bus or getting stuff off a shelf and I cannot brush my hair with my left arm either.so much for being a bionic woman with an artificial shoulder joint of metal and plastic. I had such a good left hand right hand combo before I was actually ambidexterous except I could not write with my left hand but could do everything else with it now t hanks to 'Avandia I cannot really use my left arm
@dbabcook (388)
• United States
26 Aug 09
I as well as a few people I know have all taken Alli in the past with no complications and did see results from taking it. The warnings must have since changed as none of us recall what you have posted. I wouldn't think they would be able to sell this or any other product if it were seriously dangerous. I would always however recommend that anyone wishing to take any over the counter weight loss product that they atleast first contact their physician and see what their recommendation is.
1 person likes this
