Can You Take Alli if You are Pregnant?

Weight loss is a common concern for women, and pregnant women are no exception. Alli, an over-the-counter weight loss supplement, should only be used after consulting with a physician.

Identification

• Alli, or Orlistat, is a non-prescription weight loss aid. It is available in pill form at most drugstores. Alli was approved by the FDA as of February 2007, making it the first officially approved over-the-counter weight loss drug in the United States.

Uses

• Alli is commonly used to treat obesity, particularly in those with high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.

Function

• Alli functions by causing the intestines to absorb less fat. This causes a decrease in calorie absorption, which may lead to observable weight loss. Doctors recommend combining Alli with a weight loss program to achieve the best results.

Alli and Pregnancy

• Since Alli decreases the amount of fats absorbed by the body, pregnant women should carefully consider whether they really need to use it. During pregnancy, weight gain is essential for fetal growth and maternal well-being. Additionally, Alli can hinder the body's absorption of other important vitamins.

Warning

• Although medical research has not yet identified any concrete proof that Alli could harm pregnant mothers or unborn babies, the FDA has classified it as a Category B drug. The American Pregnancy Association provides a helpful description of Category B pregnancy drugs: "Category B: No evidence of risk in humans. Adequate, well controlled studies in pregnant women have not shown increased risk of fetal abnormalities despite adverse findings in animals, or in the absence of adequate human studies, animal studies show no fetal risk. The chance of fetal harm is remote, but remains a possibility."