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The Alli diet pill is the first ever prescription drug diet pill to receive approval by the FDA for over-the-counter marketing. Much like the allergy drug Claritin that was recently released for OTC purchase, Alli is a reduced strength version of the prescription better known as Xenical.
Why has the FDA approved this particular form of weight loss supplement for over the counter purchase, and how effective is a pill with reduced strength? |
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The Alli Diet Pill - FDA Approval
Take a look at the original Xenical product upon which the Alli pill is based. It actually contains an entirely different type of drug from other weight management supplements. Orlistat, the active ingredient in Xenical, is a lipase inhibitor, meaning that it works in the user’s intestinal tract. It actually causes excess fat to be disposed of rather than stored within the body. The strength of the original product was claimed to cause the bloodstream to absorb about 30 percent less fat than normal, which is equivalent to about 600 calories on an average diet. Since 3500 calories equal a pound, this means that the parent drug of Alli claims the ability to drop at least a pound a week.
This diet pill would obviously not be as effective as Xenical simply because the strength is reduced for over the counter approval. However, even at half the strength, Alli would still provide users with the opportunity to lose a little more than half a pound a week. While this seems slow, exercise and reduced caloric intake are not taken into consideration in this calculation. For a supplement alone, especially one available over the counter, these are very good results!
Of course, no diet drug comes without side effects and warnings. While the lower dosage masks some of the initial side effects, there are plenty of side effects you may still encounter, and users should always be aware of these. Alli, like its parent drug, is not recommended for senior citizens, those with diabetes or thyroid disease, or anyone on blood thinners. The drug is absolutely only approved for use by adults and should not be considered for or sold to minors.
Because of the way that Orlistat concentrates the fat and helps to remove it from your system, diarrhea can be a common side effect for those taking the Alli diet pill. Users may also experience minor forms of the parent drug’s side effects, including flatulence and bowel pain.
Other considerations for the use of this weight loss supplement are similar to concerns with all diet drugs. Someone opting to use this product should be careful and only use the recommended doses, as some diet supplements can be habit forming. Also, the Alli diet pill is a short-term solution and should be integrated into a plan to simply get you started down the path to weight loss. The long term solution to staying thin and healthy is changing your eating habits, eating a balanced and calorie controlled diet, and to partake in regular strength training and cardiovascular exercise.
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