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Hi [Friend's First Name],
I thought you’d be interested in this page on the myalli.com web site. Access the page at http://www.myalli.com/whatisalli/commonquestions/allisafety.aspx.
alli has been approved by the FDA as safe and effective when taken according to label directions.
Taken at mealtime, alli works by blocking the absorption of ¼ of the fat in the foods you eat. alli is nonsystemically acting, which means it does not affect the central nervous system (CNS) and has no effect on the heart or the brain.
The safety and efficacy of Orlistat are both well established. A higher dose of Orlistat has been marketed as the prescription drug Xenical in the U.S. since 1999 and is supported by nine years of use in 145 countries. Orlistat experience in more than 25 million patient treatments and more than 100 clinical studies with more than 30,000 patients is unprecedented for a weight loss drug. One of these studies was the four-year landmark XENDOS trial conducted by its manufacturer, Roche. This study is the longest study ever conducted for a weight-loss drug.
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No. alli works in the gut; it is nonsystemically acting, which means it does not affect the central nervous system (CNS) and has no effect on the heart or the brain.
Obesity puts people at a greater risk for these conditions. If you have a history of any of these conditions, talk to your doctor before using alli.
If you have had your gallbladder removed, you may have problems absorbing food. Check with the doctor before using alli.
If you have had gastric bypass surgery, you should talk with your doctor before taking alli. Some patients experience problems absorbing food after such a procedure. If this is the case, alli may not be right for you. However, everyone handles these procedures differently, so it is best to check with your doctor first.
Since everyone has different GI transit times, the active ingredient in alli can actually remain in your system for up to 48 to 72 hours, mainly because gastric emptying time varies from person to person.
No. alli does not impact the efficacy of your birth control medication. A clinical trial using Orlistat (the active ingredient in alli) in 20 normal body weight women taking birth control pills for 23 days found that Orlistat had no effect on the ovulation suppression action of the birth control drug.
Yes. There are no clinically significant drug interactions with antibiotics.
No. It won’t block a cholesterol medication.
alli may block other medications. Please check the alli label before purchasing alli. Please consult with your healthcare professional.
No.
Since these medications often bind, and therefore inactivate, other drugs given concurrently, it is recommended that you take alli at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours after bile acid sequestrant administration to avoid impeding the effects of alli.
Zetia reduces blood cholesterol by inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine. alli, on the other hand, works in the stomach, where it inhibits the action of gastric and pancreatic lipases. Since these two drugs have different mechanisms of action and work at different sites in the body, it is unlikely that there will be an interaction between the two.
Ask a doctor before using alli if you are taking medicines for diabetes. There is no drug interaction between alli and diabetes medications; however, people with diabetes may have lower blood sugar levels and improved glycemic control after losing weight with alli. This may require a dose reduction of their diabetes medication.
alli does not interact with hypertensive medications, so it is OK to take alli while taking hypertensive medications. If you have questions, please check with your healthcare professional.
Check with a doctor or pharmacist before taking alli if you are taking medication for thyroid disease. People being treated for thyroid disease may need the dose of their thyroid medication adjusted based on their weight loss.
It is safe to take alli with the migraine medications Topamax and Maxalt. But, if you have any medical condition, you should first consult a physician before you change your dietary habits.
The label warns consumers in two label sections (organ transplant patients and cyclosporine users) that they should not use alli because it can lower the levels of that drug in the body.
Do not use alli if you are taking cyclosporine. If you have any other questions, check with your doctor first.
If you are using warfarin, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking alli, as you will need to be monitored and may need to have your warfarin dose adjusted.
Yes. There has been no interaction identified between the ingredient in Benecol (plant stanol esters) and Orlistat (the active ingredient in alli). On the alli program, you should aim for 15 grams of fat or less from each meal. One serving of Benecol Spread or Benecol Light Spread contains 8 or 5 grams of fat, respectively. Therefore, patients need to be mindful of the contribution of the fat in Benecol to the total amount of fat in the meal.
You should first talk to your doctor before purchasing alli if you have IBS. People with IBS have problems absorbing food. Do not use alli if you have problems absorbing food.
It’s important to read the alli label before using alli capsules. Be sure you understand the following information:
WarningsOrgan transplant alert:
Allergy alert:
Do not use
Ask a doctor before use if you have ever had
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are
Stop use and ask a doctor if
If pregnant or breast-feeding, do not use.
Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
read the full alli label
alli is indicated for use by overweight consumers 18 years of age or older, including older adults. If you have specific issues or health concerns, please check with your healthcare professional.
